Shandon Anderson enjoyed a respectable 10-year career with the NBA. It all started in 1996 when the Utah Jazz drafted the native Georgian. He went on to play for the Houston Rockets, the N.Y. Knicks and Miami Heat. In 2006 Anderson won a championship ring with Miami. He retired the same year.
Another claim to fame for Anderson is his vegetarianism. He began moving toward a vegan menu over 20 years ago, allowing some occasional fish and chicken. In 2010 he took the vegan lifestyle so seriously that he signed up for culinary courses. Bringing his love for art and food together, he established a restaurant called Drink Art, serving views of its art gallery and dishes of a yummy Thai/Vegan hybrid. The restaurant adventure lasted a brief three years before shutting its doors. Anderson’s doing just fine. He’s in his mid-forties and kickin’ it with a net worth of $22 million.
Latrell Sprewell – Priceline Pitchman
Another outrageous NBA personality is Latrell Sprewell. Notoriously, he grabbed his coach by the neck after the Golden State Warriors coach told him his passing was bad. He lost his contract and was suspended from the NBA for a year.
Other than that, he was a great player. He was a 4-time All-Star and made All-NBA First Team in 1994. However, at 36 years of age, Sprewell landed himself in retirement. It was 2005, and he rejected a 3-year, $21 million contract with the Timberwolves, arguing it wasn’t enough. Then he had nothing. Sprewell faced serious financial hardship. A $200 million custody lawsuit didn’t help. So, he became a pitchman for Priceline with a measly net worth of 50 thousand bucks.
Michael Jordan – Billionaire Entrepreneur
This epic NBA legend is eponymous with the Bulls and Nike. His iconic image, getting air to slam dunk the Chicago Bulls to six, count them, six, NBA Championship titles, is unforgettable. It’s emblazoned on the popular Nike brand. Michael Jordan lives on. He’s the first to beat Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record. Jordan’s record, leading the NBA in scoring for ten years, is unbroken. Unbreakable. Jordan has the unique distinction of retiring three times. After leaving the Bulls in 1993, he gave professional baseball a shot, but left MLB to go back to the Bulls. Retiring, again, in 1999, he left the court and took a desk for the Washington Wizards, only to come back to the court in 2001 for the Wizards. Apparently, he thought they needed better players.
In 2003, he retired from the NBA for the last time. Today, Jordan has a net worth of $1.65 billion. With the great wealth he amassed through the NBA and his teaming up with Nike, he purchased the second largest stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, now Hornets, and has several business ventures amongst his wide marketing associations and endorsements.
Tim Duncan – Mixed Martial Arts Fighter
As an NBA player, Tim Duncan was phenomenal. He’s considered one of the ten best NBA players of all time. With the San Antonio Spurs, he won five NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, and two league MVPs. Since he retired in 2016, he chills at his BlackJack Speed Shop, a tricked out custom car services shop and showroom, and in the MMA studio, learning a few moves. He’s formidable. No word yet if he’ll fight professionally.
Duncan has a giving heart and will occasionally be found personally handing out food to the less fortunate. A fan recognized him handing out food in San Antonio, home of the Spurs, in January. When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he was born and raised, Duncan teamed up with the San Antonio Food Bank to help out. His long list of philanthropy is long.
Adrian Dantley - A Crossing Guard
Arguably the most unique post-NBA career move, Adrian Dantley works as a crossing guard, protecting children crossing the street at a local school in Maryland. Former NBA great and 2008 Basketball Hall of Famer, Dantley, was a two-time NBA scoring champ and a six-time All-Star for the Utah Jazz. He retired in 1991.
Since leaving his successful career behind, Dantley finds meaning in his $14K day job with the school district. “I’ve definitely saved two lives. I’ve almost gotten hit by a car twice,” said Dantley. It’s important work! And it gives his day structure. Just like basketball he has to show up on a schedule, and he’s got summers and holidays off. He also enjoys refereeing for youth basketball in his retirement years.