by Turo
posted on July 25, 2019
Their favorite wheels might surprise you
If you had all the money in the world, what kind of car would you drive? Would you go all out and get your hands on the Sweptail from Rolls-Royce, one of the most expensive cars today? Or would you spend on a collector item like a ‘60s Ferrari 250 GTO? This classic sold at auction for $48,405,000 in 2018! Or maybe you’d stick with something more practical, like a Mini Cooper?
NBA players don’t buy dream cars because they’re just cars. With professional basketball players making an average salary of $7.6 million and the top players making more than $35 million annually, they’ve got a lot of cash to play with.
NBA players and their rides
Like any career, the better you are, the more you get paid. These five players are some of the best in the league right now. Each took their teams to the playoffs recently, so they all have the means to go big when it comes to their ride of choice.
LeBron James
LeBron has been playing professionally for more than 15 years and is viewed by basketball fans as one of the best players of all time. He’s won multiple championships, is one of the highest-paid players in the league, and is one of the most famous superstars on the planet. And his impressive car collection is a clear reflection of his success.
LeBron’s growing car collection currently takes up five of the fifteen spots in a recent list of the most expensive cars driven by NBA stars.
With cars like Ferrari F430 Spider, Ferrari 488, and Lamborghini Aventador Roadster in his collection, it’s the Kia K900 that’s getting all the attention. The news of him driving a $60,000 car despite earning millions was the talk of the town in 2016 when a teammate recorded him getting into one after winning the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Cavs.
Stephen Curry
In 2018, Curry made the news for something other than the Warrior’s third championship ring in five years. While driving his Porsche Panamera he collided with two other vehicles and totaled his beloved car.
Fortunately, Curry was okay, and he has additional cars to help him get to practice and drive to the new Chase Center in San Francisco, where the Warriors are currently playing. Other vehicles in his collection include a Cadillac Escalade ESV, Tesla Model X, and Mercedes-Benz G55.
James Harden
You know you’ve made it in the big leagues when you can buy a two-tone Rolls-Royce Wraith just because it “looks cool.” That’s precisely what Houston Rockets’ James Harden did. Harden became the highest-paid player in the NBA in 2017 after signing a six-year deal worth $228 million.
In case you’re wondering, a brand new 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith can cost you upwards of $300,000. The company calls it the “most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history.”
But that’s not the only car in his collection. His regular daily driver is a Range Rover, which he refers to as a “workhorse,” to take him to practice.
Russell Westbrook
When it comes to driving like a superstar, Russell Westbrook and his Lamborghini Aventador come to mind. The Lambo is valued at $387,000 and features a custom orange paint job and custom rims. The Aventador is a fast car, going zero to 60 in less than three seconds, the perfect match up for a star known for his speed on the court.
The Lambo is the type of car you would expect for someone who has the third-highest salary for the 2019–2020 season and regularly earns triple-doubles, recently surpassing Magic Johnson for the spot of second most triple-doubles of all time.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi recently took the Toronto Raptors to the NBA finals scoring him his second championship ring. He’s a three-time all-star and was named Finals MVP twice. But despite the accolades and signing a contract to earn $32 million a year with the Los Angeles Clippers, a championship-contending team this season, Kawhi drives a 1997 Chevy Tahoe.
He’s been driving the car since he was a young man growing up in Southern California, and when asked why he chooses to drive the twenty-year-old vehicle instead of buying a new one, his answer is simple. “It runs, and its’ paid off.”
Kawhi isn’t the only professional athlete choosing not to splurge on a car collection either. Several athletes from the NBA, NFL, and MLB are choosing to take a more practical approach when it comes to their transportation.
Drive like your favorite NBA player
While not all basketball players are opting to go with an exotic luxury car like Russell Westbrook’s Lambo, it would still be fun to spend a day driving around like your favorite player. Peruse through exotic and luxury models here on Turo and get you some superstar wheels for your next birthday, wedding, or special event!
