The Benefits of Going Pro as an Athlete

By: Jeny C. Thompson, Guest Contributor
June 5, 2024

Only the most committed and talented athletes become full-time competitors. Less than 3% of college athletes play professionally after school, and an even smaller number are plucked from high school sports programs or walk onto the field and earn a spot on a roster. We’ll examine the benefits of going pro as an athlete, including several that might not be so obvious.

Show Me the Money

It goes without saying that professional athletes are amongst the highest-paid individuals out there. The minimum rookie contract in most sports is still north of $500,000 per year. In fact, one of the biggest motivators for high school sports players to go straight to the pros instead of college is the desire to get to their second contract, which generally offers millions of dollars, when they are younger and better able to make the most of their career.

Even rookie contract money is big to many athletes and their families. There are many stories about recently signed sports pros buying new cars and a house for their parents. Many players can become financially secure for the rest of their lives, especially if their athletic success continues and they invest a large amount of their earnings.

Endorsements

Professional athletes have the potential to make more money from promoting products than they do from playing sports. This might sound crazy, but according to Business Insider, it’s true! LeBron James, for example, made almost double his NBA salary just for plugging several major brands like CarMax, Subway, and GMC, all while earning $45,000,000 or more from playing basketball in the same year.

From promoting how people can get 200 free spins to play on Casinos.com to having sneakers named after them (looking at you, Jordan!), players who reach a level of stardom that involves being paid to endorse products often put all of their advertising money into savings or other businesses and live off the (already hefty) sum they earn as pro athletes. 

So, what is the earning potential for a star who gets onto their second or later contract and has endorsements? The answer is in the billions. FOXNews reports that while the billionaire athletes club is quite exclusive, with just Tiger Woods and LeBron James on the list of still-active players, it is indeed possible. But we are sure that many college and high schoolers with the potential to turn pro would be just fine making millions!

However, money doesn’t tell the entire story. Endorsements also earn athletes bulk amounts of whatever they sponsor, so, in addition to another paycheck, they can get lots of free stuff if they want it.

Fame

When becoming a pro athlete, a player may enjoy the attention they receive from adoring fans who see them and recognize their presence. Athletes who are on television often get unintended attention from fans to the point of being asked to take selfies while walking down the street or eating at a restaurant. Thankfully, not every athlete reaches such a level of national or international fame that their popularity becomes a burden.

Medical Care and Nutrition

Professional sports teams have entire teams of medical professionals to help take care of the players. They, along with their owners and management, have a vested interest in ensuring their players are in peak physical shape so that they can give their all in every game. Every team is different, but players tend to have access to a complete gym and rehab facilities like hot tubs, icing, and anything else they need to relieve sore muscles after a tremendous amount of movement and sweating.

Access to food and nutrition also varies, though higher-rated teams have a complete food staff to assemble good meals for athletes that fuel the body. Of course, athletes also have to choose to partake in this area of help, but many will eat according to a sports nutritionist’s guidelines in an effort to stay in the right shape.

Being Around Athletes

The phrase iron sharpens iron applies here. Full-time access to teammates, other professional athletes, and professional coaches makes a huge difference in developing a player’s game. Consistently playing against other people at the peak of world talent pushes new pros that much harder to develop the right skills on and off the court.

Many teams also have veteran players who can be excellent sources of leadership. Sometimes, teams even keep players who don’t play much in the game because the ownership group loves their presence in the locker room.

Some athletes simply prefer being around other high-level competitors on a regular basis because they are the kind of people they get along with the best.

Competing at the Highest Level

Many players are incredibly competitive people who can’t live without it. Michael Jordan, perhaps the most famous example, tried to play professional baseball after winning several NBA basketball championships. There are also many stories and books about Jordan’s ultra-competitive personality, making some say he was difficult to deal with sometimes because he took everything seriously and constantly challenged people to small competitions. Not everyone is Jordan, though, and many are very happy to play in a single professional game, much less winning multiple championship titles.

Conclusion

The benefits of becoming a pro athlete are substantial, ranging from receiving jaw-dropping paychecks to being in a professional environment that constantly motivates them to improve. And, of course, there’s also something to be said about enjoying the spotlight and the many perks of playing at the highest level possible.