NBA Scores Big with $1.62 Billion in Sponsorships: Is This America's New Favorite Pastime?

A Slam Dunk for Sponsorships: Holy Jersey Patches Batman!

Well folks looks like the NBA is having itself a regular old fashioned barn burner of a year! SponsorUnited reports that NBA teams have raked in a cool $1.62 billion in sponsorship revenue this season. That's an 8% jump from last year and a whopping 91% increase from five years ago. Ninety one percent?! That's more than I bench press on a good day… okay maybe not but it's still mighty impressive. Remember what I always say: 'I can do this all day,' and apparently so can these sponsors!

Jersey Patches: More Than Just Fabric

Now what's the secret sauce? Bob Lynch from SponsorUnited says it's all about those snazzy jersey patches. Seems like slapping a company logo on a jersey is the new American dream second only to apple pie and a perfect spiral. These patches have more than doubled year over year bringing in some serious dough. Lynch called it a 'mad dash' and who am I to disagree! It's like a free for all with dollar signs instead of shield stars. Good to see good old fashioned competitive spirit alive and well. I’m glad these athletes are ‘on your left’ of the competition.

New Arenas Who Dis?

But wait there's more! The Los Angeles Clippers' brand spankin' new Intuit Dome is also a major player. According to Lynch new stadiums and expansion teams are like hitting the jackpot. It's 'equivalent to bringing in three new teams,' he says. That’s pretty impressive considering the Clippers are already… well you know. No offense to the Clippers but sometimes even I need a little 'Avengers Assemble' moment to cheer them on!

Brand New World: Construction Booze and Tech Oh My!

We're seeing new faces in the sponsorship game too. Construction alcohol and technology are leading the charge. Rakuten and JPMorgan Chase are the big spenders. It seems everyone wants a piece of the NBA pie. With these brands coming together it’s like my good old days of fighting Hydra alongside Howard Stark. ‘We have him surrounded.’

Star Power: More Than Just Muscles and Jump Shots

And let's not forget the star players. They're practically walking talking billboards these days but in a good way! According to Lynch they're no longer a threat to team sponsorships but a gateway. Players like Steph Curry and LeBron James are racking up endorsement deals that would make Tony Stark jealous. And then there's Jared McCain signing 30 deals in a single season! Talk about a busy bee and to that I ask ‘Can I get you anything?’

Is the NFL Nervous? (Probably Not)

Now before we get too carried away let's remember that the NFL is still the king of sponsorship revenue with nearly $2.5 billion. But hey the NBA is catching up! Maybe one day they'll surpass the NFL. Until then I'll just keep practicing my jump shot and waiting for my own endorsement deal. 'On your left,' NFL because here comes the NBA!