14 Professional Athletes Who Have Interesting Side Projects Outside Of Their Sport

    From clothing brands to books.

    1. Russell Westbrook is known for being a future NBA Hall of Famer who has more triple-doubles than anyone in league history, but he also created a successful clothing brand called Honor the Gift.

    Russell Westbrook dribbles a basketball

    Check out Honor the Gift here.

    A selection of shirts from the Honor The Gift online store

    2. Damian Lillard is known for being an elite NBA talent who leads the Portland Trailblazers, but he's also a rapper who creates music under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A.

    Damian Lillard shoots a basketball

    Check out his music here.

    View this video on YouTube

    Dame D.O.L.L.A.

    3. Nigel Sylvester is known for being a pro BMX athlete with an ability to pull off incredible stunts, but he also provides a mind-blowing firsthand view from his bike in a film series called Go.

    Professional BMX rider Nigel Sylvester rides through a busy street

    Check out Go - Las Vegas here.

    View this video on YouTube

    Nigel Sylvester Live

    4. Alex Morgan is known for having soccer skills that resulted in winning Olympic gold and serving as co-captain of the United States women's soccer team, but she also wrote a middle-grade book series called The Kicks.

    Alex Morgan stands on a soccer field before a game

    Check out The Kicks here.

    Girls celebrating on a soccer field on the cover of "The Kicks, Saving The Team" by Alex Morgan

    5. Venus Williams is known for her legendary run as a seven-time Grand Slam champion, but she also founded a quality activewear brand called Eleven.

    Venus Williams of USA holds the trophy after winning in three sets against Lindsay Davenport during the Ladies Final on the twelfth day of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship in 2005

    Check out Eleven here.

    A selection of clothing in the EleVen online store

    6. Israel Adesanya is known for being arguably the best mixed martial artist on the planet and the current UFC Middleweight Champion, but he also has a YouTube channel where he analyzes and breaks down fights.

    Israel Adesanya of Nigeria reacts after his victory over Marvin Vettori of Italy in their UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 263 event at Gila River Arena

    Check out Israel Adesanya's YouTube channel here.

    View this video on YouTube

    FREESTYLEBENDER

    7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is known for being one of the greatest basketball players of all time and his patented sky hook shot, but he's also written several books, acted on television, and even wrote for Veronica Mars.

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stands on the court in a Lakers uniform

    Check out Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's writings here.

    The cover of "Mycroft Holmes" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse

    8. LeBron James is known for being quite possibly the greatest basketball player ever, but he also founded an entertainment business called SpringHill Company. SpringHill produced Space Jam: A New Legacy and The Shop on HBO.

    Lebron James dribbles a basketball

    Check out more on The Shop here.

    View this video on YouTube

    HBO

    9. The late Kobe Bryant was known for being a fierce, dominant competitor on the basketball court, but he also created The Wizenard Series (authored by Wesley King, Annie Matthews, Ivy Claire). He also wrote and narrated a film called Dear Basketball, which won an Oscar.

    Kobe Bryant smiles during a basketball game

    Check out The Wizenard Series here, and read the poem that eventually became Dear Basketball here.

    The cover of "The Wizenard Series: Training Camp" created by Kobe Bryant and written by Wesley King

    10. Conor McGregor is known for being a powerful, precise striker in the UFC, but he also has a clothing brand called August McGregor that makes everything from suits to underwear.

    Conor McGregor of Ireland prepares to fight Dustin Poirier during the UFC 264 event at T-Mobile Arena

    Check out August McGregor here:

    The August McGregor online shop

    11. Serena Williams is known for being arguably the greatest athlete of all time with a dominant tennis career, but she also has a clothing collection called S by Serena.

    Serena Williams serves during a tennis match

    Check out S by Serena here:

    A selection of clothes from S by Serena

    12. Derek Jeter is known for being one of the greatest shortstops in MLB history, but he also founded a website for professional athletes to write directly to fans in their own words called the Players' Tribune.

    Derek Jeter stands with his bat primed for swinging during a baseball game

    Check out the Players' Tribune here:

    The Players' Tribune logo

    13. Demetrious Johnson is known for being one of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists in the world, formerly in the UFC and currently in One Championship, but he's also a gamer who streams on Twitch under the name MightyGaming.

    Demetrious Johnson stands in the Octagon prior to his UFC flyweight championship bout

    Check out MightyGaming on Twitch and on YouTube.

    View this video on YouTube

    Mighty Gaming

    14. And finally, Dwyane Wade was known for being one of the great shooting guards in NBA history, but he also has a California wine company called Wade Cellars, and he wrote a memoir called Dwyane.

    Dwyane Wade stands on the court during a basketball game

    Check out Wade Cellars here, and Dwyane here.

    Dwyane Wade on the cover of "Dwyane"