Business: How was the draft process of the Top 3 NBA players in the “The World's Highest-Paid Athletes 2019” list

The NBA draft is an annual event dating back to 1947 in which the teams from the National Basketball Association (NBA) can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These are typically college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted. 

• College players who have finished their four-year college eligibility are automatically eligible for selection, while the underclassmen have to declare their eligibility and give up their remaining college eligibility. 
• International players who are at least 22 years old are automatically eligible for selection, while the players younger than 22 have to declare their eligibility. 
• Players who are not automatically eligible but have declared their eligibility are often called "early-entrants" or "early-entry candidates". 
• The draft usually takes place near the end of June, during the NBA offseason. 
• Since 1989, the draft has consisted of two rounds; this is much shorter than the entry drafts of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, all of which run at least seven rounds. Sixty players are selected in each draft. No player may sign with the NBA until he has been eligible for at least one draft

#8 Lebron James

2019 The World's Highest-Paid Athletes Earnings

as of 6/10/19

$89M

• Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 under a four-year, $153 million contract.
• He has the NBA's top endorsement portfolio, as well as his own production company (SpringHill Entertainment) and media company (Uninterrupted).
• James teamed up with Cindy Crawford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lindsey Vonn in 2018 to launch Ladder, a health and wellness company.
• The LeBron James Family Foundation opened its first elementary school in 2018 and plans to spend $41 million to send kids to college.
• James and his partners own 14 Blaze Pizza franchises in Chicago and seven in South Florida. He is also an investor and paid endorser for the company.

The 2003 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2003, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The NBA announced that 41 college and high school players and a record 31 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2003 NBA draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 22.50 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 22, and Cleveland chairman Gordon Gund said afterward his team would select LeBron James.

The 2003 draft is known for having one of the most talented draft pools in draft history.

• The draft contained fifteen players that combined for twenty-six championships. 
• Four of the top five picks are NBA All-Stars and "Redeem Team" Olympic Gold Medalists: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. 
• Many players have been in the starting line-ups of their respective teams; nine have participated in an All-Star Game, Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP in 2006 and won the NBA All Star Game MVP in 2010. 
• Boris Diaw won the Most Improved Player Award in 2006, Jason Kapono won the three point shootout back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008, James Jones won the three point shootout in 2011, Leandro Barbosa won the Sixth Man Award in 2007, Kyle Korver set the NBA record for three point shooting percentage in 2010 (53.6%), and in the 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 seasons 
• LeBron James won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, and the NBA Finals MVP in 2012, 2013 and 2016. 

How LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and the 2003 draft class transformed the NBA | SC Featured | ESP

#9 Stephen Curry

2019 The World's Highest-Paid Athletes Earnings
as of 6/10/19
$79.8M

• The two-time MVP signed the NBA's first $200 million contract in 2017; he's had the league's top salary the past two seasons.
• In 2017, Curry formed a new company, SC30, which manages his investments, brand partnerships and philanthropic ventures.
• Curry is among the world's most marketable athletes, and recent additions to his sponsorship roster include Palm and Rakuten.
• Curry's production company, Unanimous Media, has a development deal with Sony Pictures.
• His company's first movie, Breakthrough, was released in April; it's based on a book by Joyce Smith titled The Impossible.

The 2009 NBA draft was held on June 25, 2009, at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, the National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players.

•  The Los Angeles Clippers, who won the draft lottery on May 19, 2009, used their first overall draft pick to draft Blake Griffin from University of Oklahoma. However, he missed the entire 2009–10 season due to surgery on his broken left kneecap, which he injured during the pre-season.
• Tanzanian-born Hasheem Thabeet from University of Connecticut was drafted second by the Memphis Grizzlies. Thabeet became the first player born in Tanzania to be drafted by an NBA team. 
• James Harden was drafted 3rd by the Oklahoma City Thunder. This made him the first player to be drafted by the franchise as the Oklahoma City Thunder; the franchise moved from Seattle to OKC in 2008. 
• The Sacramento Kings drafted Tyreke Evans 4th; he was named 2009–10 NBA Rookie of the Year, after he became the fourth NBA player in history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie season, joining the elite club of Oscar Robertson (1960), Michael Jordan (1984) and LeBron James (2003). 
• Spanish teenager Ricky Rubio was drafted 5th by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rubio became the fifth-highest-drafted international player who never played U.S. college basketball to be drafted in the NBA, tied with Nikoloz Tskitishvili (5th in 2002), and behind Yao Ming (1st in 2002), Andrea Bargnani (1st in 2006), Darko Miličić (2nd in 2003) and Pau Gasol (3rd in 2001). 
• The 2009 draft marked the first time three sons of former NBA players were selected in the top 15 picks of the draft. Stephen Curry, son of Dell Curry, was drafted 7th by the Golden State Warriors. Gerald Henderson Jr., son of Gerald Henderson, was drafted 12th by the Charlotte Bobcats. Austin Daye, son of Darren Daye, was drafted 15th by the Detroit Pistons. 

2009 NBA Draft Highlights - Selections Of Stephen Curry, B.Griffin, Harden, DeRozan, Rubio,Jennings!

#10 Kevin Durant

2019 The World's Highest-Paid Athletes Earnings
as of 6/10/19
$65.4M

• Durant left millions on the table with three straight under-valued contracts with the Warriors, the most recent of which paid $30 million in 2018-19.
• Most expect Durant will exercise a player option to test free agency before 2019-20; he'll likely land a max deal worth some $40 million per year.
• The ten-time All-Star banks $35 million from sponsors, but he's also invested in more than 30 companies, including Postmates and investing app Acorns.
• In 2018, the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation announced a $10 million commitment to bring the College Track academic program to his Maryland hometown.

The 2007 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players.

• Freshman Greg Oden from Ohio State University was drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, who won the draft lottery. However, he missed the 2007–08 season due to microfracture surgery on his right knee during the pre-season.
• Another freshman, Kevin Durant, was drafted second overall from the University of Texas by the Seattle SuperSonics, and went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award for the 2007–08 season. 
• Oden and Durant became the first freshmen to be selected with the top two picks in the draft.
• Al Horford, the son of former NBA player Tito Horford, was drafted third by the Atlanta Hawks.
• Of the three top picks, Durant has been a League MVP, a finals MVP and perennial All-Star whilst Horford has enjoyed a solid All-Star career. Oden, however, was beset by numerous microfracture surgeries on both knees that limited him to only 82 games from 2008 to 2010.

2007 NBA Draft Highlights - Selections Of KD, Oden, Horford, Noah!