LeBron James just became the first person to break the billion dollar revenue ceiling, while still being an active NBA player. From the look of things, Giannis Antetokoumpo is set to follow suit. The “Greek Freak” was already one of the most popular NBA players, but now having added the championship to his CV, he has leveled up.

“A championship opens many new and fruitful doors for him. It takes him to the next level,” Dr Tim Derdenger, Associate Professor of Marketing and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, told Forbes Magazine.

After joining the NBA, in 2013, Antetokoumpo managed to become one of the biggest names in basketball in just a few years, signing a 5-year extension with the Bucks in December. He also earns $25 million annually from his deals with companies such as Nike, JBL and Budweiser in the USA and Sarantis and Protergia in Greece.

He currently claims the fifth spot on the Forbes list in off-court earnings out of all NBA players.

According to Derdenger, his annual earnings from endorsements could climb to between $30 million and $45 million based on Antetokoumpo’s success and international appeal.

“This is a person who can promote Louis Vuitton as effectively as Nike,” he said to Forbes sports consultant Marc Ganis. He further estimates that if Antetokoumpo decides to prioritize his monetary gains, he could double or even triple his current earnings.

This could put him in the same echelon as LeBron James – the NBA player with the most off-court earnings, at $65 million dollars.

“It’s an opportune time for the Greek superstar. With James’s career dwindling, Antetokoumpo’s championship status could make him a viable choice as the new face of Nike basketball,” added Forbes.

This article was previously published in Greek at moneyreview.gr.