Adams in top 100 on money list

WELLINGTON: New Zealand basketballer Steven Adams has jumped into Forbes’ annual list of the world’s top hundred highestpaid athletes.

The 2.13m Oklahoma City Thunder centre has annual earnings of $US23.5 million ($NZ33.4 million), coming in at No 86 in the top 100 rankings.

Adams, who joined Oklahoma City in 2013, signed a fouryear, $US140 million contract extension with the Thunder in late 2016.

Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather has reclaimed first place from football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in a list which does not include a single woman.

The 41yearold American’s earnings from last year’s fight with Irishman Conor McGregor made him the world’s best paid for the fourth time in seven years, with $US285 million.

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo ($US108 million) fell to third, behind football rival Lionel Messi ($US111 million). McGregor was fourth and Brazilian footballer Neymar fifth.

Only the top three had earnings that surpassed

$US100 million.

In previous years, there has always been at least one woman — and as many as three in some years — in the list since it was expanded to include at least 50 names in 2010.

Serena Williams, winner of 23 grand slam tennis singles titles, was the sole female representative last year but she has since largely been inactive owing to pregnancy and giving birth to daughter Alexis in September.

Though still substantial, her $US18 million offcourt earnings from sponsors were not enough for her to make the top 100.

The list, which includes all salaries and bonuses earned from June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018, is dominated by American sportsmen with 40 basketball players, 18 American footballers and 14 baseball players in the top 100.

LeBron James (basketball), Roger Federer (tennis), Stephen Curry (basketball), Matt Ryan (American football) and

Matthew Stafford (American football) round out the top 10.

Tiger Woods is the topranked golfer at No 16, $US42 million of his $US43.3 million earnings coming through endorsements.

Ronaldo, Mayweather and Woods are only three to top the bestpaid list during the past 18 years.