The article discusses several instances of NBA players making costly mistakes, either financially or professionally. Some of the examples include:
* Lonzo Ball trusting his family friend Alan Foster to manage his finances, only to discover that Foster had embezzled $1.5 million.
* Nerlens Noel demanding a $146 million contract extension, which led to him losing out on a significant amount of money when the team refused to pay him that amount.
* Isaiah Thomas playing through injuries, which ultimately led to a hip injury that cost him a potential $100 million contract.
* Vladimir Radmanović violating his contract by snowboarding, which could have cost him a $30 million contract.
* Latrell Sprewell choking his coach, which led to a suspension and a significant loss of income.
* Gilbert Arenas pulling a gun on a teammate, which led to a suspension and a $10 million fine.
* Meyers Leonard using a racial slur during a live stream, which led to him losing sponsorships and being traded.
* Paul Pierce getting fired from his job as an analyst for ESPN after going on Instagram Live and engaging in behavior deemed unprofessional.
These stories highlight the importance of making smart decisions and avoiding costly mistakes, both on and off the court.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Lonzo Ball lost $1.5 million due to his family's closest friend, Alan Foster, who was found to have a history of stealing.
2. Nerlens Noel lost $66 million by demanding a $146 million contract from the Dallas Mavericks, which they refused to pay.
3. Isaiah Thomas lost over $100 million by playing with injuries and eventually having to sit out due to a blown-out hip.
4. Vladimir Radmanović lost $30 million by violating his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers by participating in snowboarding.
5. Latrell Sprewell lost hundreds of millions of dollars by choking out his coach, P.J. Carlesimo, and later refusing to accept a $21 million contract offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
6. Gilbert Arenas lost over $10 million by pulling out a gun on his teammate Javaris Crittenton in the locker room.
7. Meyers Leonard lost $10 million by using a religious slur during a live stream on Twitch, resulting in his ban from the platform and the cancellation of his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
8. Paul Pierce lost his $1.5 million per year contract with ESPN after going on Instagram Live and engaging in unprofessional behavior.
9. Zion Williamson has spent millions of dollars on luxury items, including an iced-out Infinity Gauntlet and three customized Mercedes-Benz cars.