Kobe Bryant — already one of the richest athletes in American sports — will make upward of $24 million in one day this Friday.
The 15-time All-Star’s contract pays him $30,453,805 per season, but NBA rules allow players to receive up to 80 percent of their annual salary in a “balloon payment” if they so choose. Bryant has elected to go that route, resulting in a one-day payout of $24,363,044 on Nov. 1.
The Lakers will pay the remaining $6.1 million of Bryant’s contract in installments throughout the season.
Though he got his payday, Bryant still hasn’t been able to return to the court as he continues to rehab from a torn Achilles tendon suffered late last season. The Lakers have split their first two games of the 2013-14 campaign with him on the bench.
