When you think of the colossal amounts of money doled out to athletes in this day and age, sometimes, it takes you back to your days in junior high, when the sports coach would stretch you beyond your limits on the basketball court or football pitch or even the track, and you didn’t like it one bit. In fact, it was much easier to get a note excusing you from participating either because of health reasons or something else.
As time went by, though, we started cheering on athletes during big games, such as the Olympics, the World Cup, golf tournaments, and exciting matches like the Super Bowl and the NBA. It wasn’t until we got to know how much these guys earn and their lifestyles were flashed right before our eyes that we remembered how we used to skip physical education classes. The kids that stuck it out and put in hours on the court or the race track are now on everyone’s lips–they’re our role models, our idols, and they live large! Some of these kids went on to become the biggest names in the NBA, and their earnings are over the roof. We checked out the guys whom we adore on the basketball court and their rides, and boy... are they living our dream lives! The range of cars they call their daily drives is impressive, some of them with luxury supercars, while others prefer muscle cars and even Oldsmobiles. Without further ado, check out the top 8 cars driven by NBA superstars.
8
PAUL GEORGE
George is a small forward with the Oklahoma City Thunder team. This five-time NBA All-Star set off his basketball career in high school after which the Indiana Pacers selected him for the 2010 NBA Draft. Despite suffering a broken leg while competing for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014, George quickly recovered in time to get back to the court. During his recovery, he received a lot of support from the basketball community, but he also got a brand new white Ferrari 458 Italia, probably what hastened the healing process. He also has a Ferrari F430, with 483 horsepower and a top speed of 200 mph, and a Porsche Panamera, which is common among other top-earning celebrities in the world.
7
ZACH RANDOLPH
Randolph, aka Z-Bo, joined the NBA through the 2001 NBA Draft right after his college freshman season. He was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers, and he’s been in the game for quite a while. He plays for the Sacramento Kings as a power forward/center and has been an NBA All-Star twice. Randolph has made over $172 million in NBA salary alone over his career, which is more than enough for him to get dope cars.
His collection includes a customized white Bentley Mulsanne with staggered 24-inch wheels and a chrome lip, plus a fleet of seven Chevy donks which he takes much pride in.
The most prominent of his donks is the vibrant red 1976 Impala, whose 26-inch wheels match the car’s vibrant red and chrome for a cool shine. This car is fitted with a unique sound system that includes a Kenwood head unit and a Sony DVD player.
6
MICHAEL BEASLEY
This guy is special because he's one of the rare players in the NBA who are ambidextrous, meaning he can use both his right and his left hand to play, but he actually shoots with the left one. Beasley Jr., a 29-year-old small/power forward with the New York Knicks, grew up with top NBA players like Kevin Durant and Nolan Smith, so their friendship didn’t just start on the court. His contract with the Knicks and his endorsement deal with Nike and Adidas have allowed him to get cool whips like his all-black Range Rover, which he fitted with 24-inch Forgiato Concavos and a chrome lip, plus a four-door Bentley Flying Spur, for which he also recently got a cool set of rims.
5
PAU GASOL
This six-time NBA All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection player is a power forward/center with the San Antonio Spurs. The 37-year-old, the only Spaniard and non-American to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award, signed endorsement deals with big brand names like Nike, Banco Popular, EA Sports, and San Miguel. He’s also authored a book titled "Life–Vida," which tracks his life through photos about leadership and teamwork, with proceeds going to his charitable Gasol Foundation. Despite his huge earnings, Gasol settled for an Audi A8—not too posh, but it’s still synonymous with celebrity. Some of the well-known celebs who drive this car include Jason Statham and even Prince Charles of the Royal Family.
4
GEORGE JESSE HILL JR.
Jesse grew up wanting to be like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, who are more like the ‘fathers’ of b-ball, and they’re among the top ten richest, with Jordan right at the top. In his quest to fill his role models’ huge shoes, Jesse, whose childhood dream was to play in the NBA, excelled in his high school as one of the top players, forming part of the Magnificent Seven from Indianapolis. This landed him a spot in the 2008 NBA draft when the San Antonio Spurs selected him. Today, he plays for the Sacramento Kings, and from his earnings, he got a 1971 Cutlass, which he painted black and Hemi orange. He dedicated this car to his former school, Broad Ripple High. In fact, each of his cars is dedicated to a different period in his life.
3
VINCE CARTER
When an NBA player has hopped from teams like the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors, and the Phoenix Suns, you know he’s seasoned, especially if he started way back in the '90s. Carter has seen many games and seasons, and he’s one out of only seven players to have played in at least 20 NBA seasons in his lifetime. This is probably what earned him the Most Influential Veteran title given him by the NBA Players Association. Today, he’s a shooting guard with the Sacramento Kings, on a one-year contract worth $8 million.
With such good money, Carter is able to afford his Mercedes S63 and Chevy Camaro, which he's done quite some work on.
The Camaro has custom-painted 24” rims and a heavy sound system to keep him entertained on the road. The S63 has Wald fenders, 22-inch NC Forged wheels, smoked lights, and a lowered suspension for the totally ol' skool look.
2
TYSON CHANDLER
Chandler’s love for the game started at a tender age of three years when he began playing basketball on a basket his grandfather fixed on a tree. By age nine, he was already close to six feet tall, which got him teased a lot by kids on his school’s basketball team. His love for b-ball and his height paid off when he became a teenage sensation–goodbye childhood haters, hello NBA pro! In 2001, he declared for the NBA draft and the rest is history. The father of three has an eye for fine fashion but also for strong and expensive cars. The 7’1” NBA star drives a lifted Ford F350 Super Duty, which he likes because it accommodates his huge build and height. He also has a 2011 Range Rover HSE, a white Ferrari, and a Mustang.
1
REGGIE EVANS
If you’re a fan of Evans, you may know a lot about his game and his lavish lifestyle but probably don’t know where he came from. Back in the day, he was known as ‘Slim,’ a street name given him as a crack-cocaine peddler, but he only did this to support his family financially as his mom was already struggling to pay the bills. But this didn’t last long, as he decided to quit when he saw his cousin arrested twice for selling drugs. He moved on swiftly to become a basketball star in high school, and in no time, he was in the NBA. Finally, he could afford anything, and his mom didn’t have to suffer anymore. He also rewarded himself with a swagged-out, ol’ skool, drop-top donk fit for Reggie Evans’s hood style.