BNXN claims Nigerian artists are not as wealthy as NBA players, saying American basketballers earn significantly more based on his personal interactions

Afrobeats singer Daniel Benson, popularly known as BNXN, on 3 July 2026 sparked conversation online after stating that Nigerian musicians are not as wealthy as NBA players, arguing that elite American basketball stars earn significantly more than most artists in the music industry.

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The Finesse crooner made the remarks during a recent livestream with streamer Ojo, where he discussed the long-standing debate comparing the earnings of athletes and entertainers.

BNXN said his personal interactions with professional basketball players informed his perspective, noting that he has friends in the NBA who earn what he described as “insanely high” incomes.

“I am friends with a few NBA players. These guys have so much money. Nigerian artists don’t even have as much money as them,” he said.

He further explained that the earning gap becomes more apparent when comparing top-tier athletes with musicians in the Afrobeats industry.

“A player of Jaylen Brown’s calibre has so much money. Afrobeats are not close to athletes in terms of earnings,” BNXN added.

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His comments have reignited discussions about global income disparities between sports and entertainment, particularly the financial structure of the NBA, where player salaries, endorsements and bonuses significantly boost overall earnings.