It’s just a small piece of fabric — 2.6876 by 3.25 inches, to be precise — yet jersey ad patches are quite visible at all times during an NBA game.
Having a sponsor’s patch on a team’s jersey generates a massive amount of revenue for a franchise. The Warriors, for example, reportedly have made close to $20 million a year from their deal with the cash back shopping site Rakuten.
Rakuten’s logo has been on Golden State’s jerseys since the league approved jersey ad patches in 2017. That means the Warriors have raked in nearly $100 million just for having the website’s logo on the corner of their jersey.
With the Warriors still being one of the NBA’s marquee teams after winning their fourth title in eight seasons, Rakuten is surely getting prime visibility.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Rakuten’s partnership with the Warriors.
MORE: Which team has won the most NBA championships?
What is Rakuten?
Simply put, Rakuten is a cash back shopping website. But here’s a more detailed breakdown from Rakuten:
Rakuten is where you can get Cash Back for shopping at over 3,500 stores. Stores pay Rakuten a commission for sending you their way, and Rakuten shares the commission with you as Cash Back. Get paid every three months, plus earn a cash bonus when you join and shop. Founded in 1998, Rakuten has paid members over $1 billion Cash Back.
Why is Rakuten on the Warriors’ jerseys?
Rakuten’s logo is on the Warriors’ jerseys because the company paid a lot of money to have it there.
How much is Rakuten paying to be on the Warriors’ jerseys?
As noted above, the cash back shopping website has reportedly paid $20 million a year to have its logo placed on Golden State’s jerseys.
According to a report from CNBC’s Jabari Young, Rakuten will pay over $40 million annually to have its patch on the Warriors’ jerseys, beginning in the 2022-23 season.
When was Rakuten added to the Warriors’ jerseys?
Rakuten’s logo was added to Golden State’s jerseys in 2017. The NBA allowed teams to place ad patches on their jerseys in 2017, and the Warriors were one of the first teams to land a corporate sponsor.
Rakuten initially signed a deal with the Warriors that expired in 2022, but the company extended that deal in May 2022.
Did the Warriors and Rakuten make an inspirational video about their partnership?
You bet they did.
Full list of NBA jersey sponsors
Twenty-six teams are currently participants in the NBA’s Jersey Patch Program. The Grizzlies, Knicks, Trail Blazers and Wizards are the only teams still seeking new deals.
| Team | Jersey Sponsor |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Sharecare |
| Boston Celtics | Vistaprint |
| Brooklyn Nets | Webull |
| Charlotte Hornets | Lending Tree |
| Chicago Bulls | Motorola |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. |
| Dallas Mavericks | Chime |
| Denver Nuggets | Western Union |
| Detroit Pistons | United Wholesale Mortgage |
| Golden State Warriors | Rakuten |
| Houston Rockets | Credit Karma |
| Indiana Pacers | Motorola |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Honey |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Bibigo |
| Memphis Grizzlies | — |
| Miami Heat | Ultimate Kronos Group |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Motorola |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Aura |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Ibotta |
| New York Knicks | — |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores |
| Orlando Magic | Walt Disney World |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Crypto.com |
| Phoenix Suns | PayPal |
| Portland Trail Blazers | — |
| Sacramento Kings | Dialpad |
| San Antonio Spurs | Self Financial |
| Toronto Raptors | Sun Life Financial |
| Utah Jazz | Qualtrics |
| Washington Wizards | — |