Athletes Are All About Their Business
Today’s athletes have been excelling on the business side of their career at an amazing pace. While it is important to dissect the impact men and women are having between the lines, we must highlight the business acumen they are putting on display within various industries.
Through extensive exposure to various business opportunities and brand partnerships, athletes are leveraging their personal interests to solidify their future while making a name for themselves once they hang up their jersey. See below, notable stars who have been excelling in the sport of business.
A’ja Wilson - Burnt Wax Candle Company
The 2x WNBA Finals Champion is one of the most decorated players in the league and arguably the face of the WNBA. The South Carolina native has leaned in to her passion for candles to create Burnt Wax Candle Company. The luxury candle line was created with the help of her mother, who noticed Wilson’s affinity for the home accessory.
A’ja’s candle brand features items titled after her many athletic accomplishments, some of which include: Defensive Player of the Year, WNBA Champion and more. Her business concept was a product of the pandemic in 2020 and her passion to create generational wealth for her family. The 2023 WNBA Finals MVP is off to a great start.
CJ McCollum - McCollum Heritage 91
CJ McCollum is known for calling his own shots. The product of Lehigh University has made an impact at every stop on his professional journey. He has taken that same momentum into the vineyards to create his McCollum Heritage 91 wine label. The slogan for the brand is “Passion Rooted in Legacy”, and CJ is heavy on the passion part. It is reported that he brought 84 bottles of wine to the NBA bubble, turning his hotel room into his personal wine cellar!
In 2020, CJ turned his passion into a business after being introduced to wine years priors during his time in Oregon playing for the Portland Trailblazers. The name of the brand is literally rooted in his upbringing, Heritage is the name of the street he grew up on in Canton, Ohio and 91 symbolizes the year he was born.
Damian Lillard - Move Insoles
They say issues present opportunities to find solutions. NBA superstar Damian Lillard has dealt with foot issues in the past found a solution to help prevent similar ailments when his agent, Nate Jones introduced him to Move Insoles. After participating in the Tokyo Olympics wearing the product, Lillard instantly became interested in getting involved with the company.
This impression guided Dame to become a co-founder of Move with his agent and consultants in 2020. The company provides products for everyday usage, as well as high performance activity for today’s athletes. Lillard isn’t the only NBA star paying attention, Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford have also invested in the company. According to a study, the global foot orthotic insole industry is expected to grow to $6.1M by 2030, up from $3.8M in 2022. Safe to say this company is moving in the right direction.