1. LeBron James



LeBron James having a signature shoe was pretty much a done deal even before he played his first NBA game. He was probably the most hyped prospect in the history of the NBA and shoe companies would have been crazy not to ride his wave. The King signed a 7 year deal with Nike that was reportedly worth almost $100M. That's already a huge amount by any standard but that's tiny compared to the lifetime Nike deal that James' signed a few years back to the tune of $1,000,000,000 (yes, that's ONE BILLION).


2. Zion Williamson



Only one other person can even closely match the buzz surrounding King James' arrival in the NBA. That guy is Zion Williamson. The hulking forward from Duke is one of the most hyped rookies in the history of the game and his shoe deal proves it. Williamson recently signed with the Jordan Brand for five years with a rumored value of anywhere between $75 million to $110 million.


3. Kevin Durant



Like him or hate him, Kevin Durant is one of the most talented basketball players the world has ever seen. And it's only fitting for a player of his caliber to have his own signature shoe. The KD line under Nike started with a 7 year, $60 million deal inked during Durant's rookie year and still one of Nike's flagship basketball shoes.


4. Allen Iverson



The Answer was one of the most exciting players of his generation. Though often misunderstood, his body of work should still place him as one of the best players to ever play in the NBA (and not win a championship, unfortunately). His deal with Reebok was unprecedented when it was signed and carried a value of $60 million spread over 10 years.


5. Vince Carter



Most people associate Vince Carter with Nike and the Shox line of sneakers. But Half Man Half Amazing actually started playing with Pumas on his feet, specifically the Puma Cell Origin Mid. Carter initially signed a 10 year deal with Puma worth $50 million but was unhappy and wanted out after his first season. There are numerous reports as to why he broke his contract with Puma such as the shoes hurting his feet and the shoe company failing to deliver on creating a true signature line. Whatever the reason, Carter was charged over $13.5 million for walking away from his contract while Nike also reportedly coughed up $20 million to Puma to completely release Carter from all contractual obligations.