For professional athletes, luxury real estate can be another avenue for building wealth beyond lucrative contracts and endorsement deals. However, owning a multimillion-dollar mansion does not guarantee a profitable investment. Even basketball’s biggest names have discovered that selling a property can require patience, price reductions and a willingness to negotiate.
Moving On
Former NBA star Juwan Howard is among the latest athletes to make a significant move in the luxury real estate market. His recent transaction involved a property he spent more than a decade developing, transforming an older residence into an estate designed to compete with South Florida’s most exclusive homes.
The two-time NBA champion sold his custom-built Coral Gables mansion for a reported $25 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. The sale caps real estate project that began in 2013, when Howard purchased the 1.73-acre property for $3.4 million.
Located inside Journey’s End, a gated community of just 18 estates, the property originally featured a 1970s home. Howard demolished the existing structure and commissioned Miami architect Kobi Karp to design a contemporary mansion in its place.
The nearly 9,000-square-foot residence features seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and a half-bathroom. Its architectural highlights include a floating staircase and soaring 23-foot ceilings. Luxury amenities include a wellness suite, wine room, media room and a 75-foot swimming pool.
The grounds also feature a detached four-car garage and deeded boat slip with access to a private marina.
According to Elite Agent, Howard initially listed the property for $31.5 million in September 2025 before reducing the price to $28.9 million in June 2026.
The final $25 million deal was $6.5 million below his original asking price and $3.9 million below the reduced price. Lauren and Toni Schrager of Brown Harris Stevens represented Howard in the transaction.
Although the selling price was $21.6 million above Howard’s original purchase price, that difference does not represent his actual profit. Old Florida Money noted that construction expenses remain undisclosed. Demolition, maintenance, and transaction costs must also be considered.
Howard, a former member of Michigan’s celebrated Fab Five, played 19 seasons in the NBA and won back-to-back championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets.
Howard is not the only basketball star making significant real estate moves in 2026.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, sold their Atherton, California, estate for $29.1 million in May. The couple purchased the property for $30 million in 2020, making the sale price $900,000 less than their original purchase price, before expenses and any renovation costs.
The 17,761-square-foot mansion includes seven bedrooms, a guesthouse, swimming pool and wine cellar.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns also parted ways with his Minnesota mansion. He sold the Medina estate for $4.75 million in January, after purchasing it for approximately $4.52 million in 2018.
The 17,250-square-foot property features an indoor basketball court, swimming pool with a waterslide, tennis court and 11-car garage. The sale followed his departure from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024.
Meanwhile, other NBA veterans have placed expensive properties on the market.
Former Boston Celtics champion Al Horford listed his Brookline, Massachusetts, mansion for approximately $15 million. He purchased the property for $14.8 million in 2023, according to property records cited by Realtor.com. The residence spans 13,200 square feet and sits on 1.6 acres.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum also made a significant move in the luxury real estate market, selling his Lake Norman, North Carolina, mansion for $6 million. He purchased the waterfront property for $3.725 million in 2016.
The more than 10,000-square-foot residence includes six bedrooms, a private theater, wine vault, basketball court and covered boat dock. The property reportedly sold for its asking price in late June.
For Howard and his fellow NBA veterans, these transactions illustrate an important distinction between athletic earnings and real estate investing.
A multimillion-dollar sale can command headlines, but the true financial victory depends on what remains after the expenses are paid.