Glancing over at the highest-paid players in the NBA reveals that Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has the richest annual salary at a little north of $48 million. One thing to know: Aldridge wasn't the flashiest player, but at his peak, he owned one of the most skillful low-post games and a buttery jumper that allowed him to average 20-plus points per game in seven seasons. Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is the tenth-highest-paid player, projected to earn $39 million, mostly thanks to his $25 million salary. MORE: Who has the most 50-point games in NBA history? - 2022-23 Salary: $48,070,014. Anunoby cracks the league's shortlist of its very best defenders. The Atlanta Hawks paid a small fortune to land Dejounte Murray during the 2022 NBA season. He then earned every penny by leading the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years, the 2020-21 NBA Finals MVP title. More important for this season specifically is the return of fans to arenas. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. Draymond Green, PF. With players often signing short-term contracts or long-term deals that include an opt-out clause, the culture has become one of total player empowerment: The stars have a say in where, with whom, and for how much money they would like to play. He's played in just 58% of games the last three seasons. - 2022-23 Salary: $33,833,400. - Team: Los Angeles Clippers Fans across the US are craving concerts. 3. One thing to know: Durant's $194 million extension, which he signed last summer, kicks in this year, but he has requested a trade from the Nets. NBA contracts keep The 31 highest-paid players in the NBA all make at least $30 million per year. He is also the subject of a biopic from Walt Disney currently in production, and he recently bought a small stake in baseballs Milwaukee Brewers. Last season, with the pandemic severely hampering attendance, the NBA made emergency financial adjustments that effectively cut player pay by up to 20%. [3] Another exception, known as the mid-level exception, allows for teams that are over the salary cap to sign one or more players as long as they do not exceed the total amount of the average NBA salary. One thing to know: According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Horford has only $14.5 million of his $26.5 million salary guaranteed, but it becomes fully guaranteed if he wins the Finals. By: HoopsHype. An Anunoby trade would effectively empty Atlanta's asset collection, but if the Hawks see him as their missing piece, that's a price they can (and probably should) pay. Awards: 4x MVP, 4x Finals MVP, 18x All-Star, 18x All-NBA, Career stats: 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists. In doing so, youre agreeing to the below guidelines. Awards: 7x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 4x All-Defensive, Most Improved Player, Career stats: 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists. The veteran point guard for the 76ers and Pelicans before joining the Bucks in 2020 managed to score 27 points in Game 5 of the Bucks-Suns NBA Finals. The Celtics are currently the betting favorites to win the championship. The Phoenix Suns point guard will earn $40.1 million in the last year of his $160 million contract. James is sitting behind a few players based on his NBA salary, but when you factor in his off-court earnings, he stands alone. The 32-year-old also recently partnered with luxury watch brand Vanguart as an ambassador and shareholder. 22 Khris Middleton isn't the kind of player who grabs a lot of headlines, but that's fine with the Bucks because they have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday for that. But it also helped the Sixers built a formidable squad that should compete for a championship next spring. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. A ProPublica report in July indicated James had declared $124 million in income on his 2018 tax return; however, Forbes has not been able to obtain the document to verify its authenticity or determine whether the $124 million figure included pass-through income. With the 115th pick, the Chicago Bears selected Texas running back Roschon Johnson, a player who at Texas might've been "the star'' had Bijan Robinson (who went No. Since Phoenix drafted him in 2015, Booker has improved almost every year, averaging a career-high 26.8 points per game in 2021-22 and holding steady at 26.5 per game in the first 13 games of 2022-23. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by. The Greek Freak is just beginning the five-year, $228 million super-max contract he signed in December, and he counts Nike, JBL and TCLplus Greeces Sarantisamong his sponsors. The 33-year-old sharpshooter also ties for second, with Kevin Durant, with his off-the-court earnings. Jimmy Butler, riding out his contract before a lucrative extension lifts his salary past $45 million in 2023-24, is the lone member of this list making his first appearance in the NBAs top ten. 1. For the moment. The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry takes the runner-up spot with $92.8 million, which would have been a record for an NBA player just a year and half ago. Often injured but impressive when he's healthy, the center has been nearly that impactful (21 points, 8.2 rebounds) over the first 14 games of the 2022-23 season. The highest-paid players in NBA history - HoopsHype The Sixers desperately want to shed their habit of playing well in the regular season but faltering in the postseason. The 32-year-old Miami Heat star signed with Chinese shoe brand Li-Ning last year, the biggest partner in an endorsement portfolio that picked up TAG Heuer watches and Jaybird wireless earbuds in the spring. Awards: 1x MVP, 10x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, Sixth Man of the Year, Career stats: 24.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists. Former Rockets teammates James Harden and John Wall aren't far behind Curry at $44.3 million, and Russell Westbrookand Kevin Durant round out the top five. Highest The Highest-Paid NBA Players 2021 - Forbes With the extension, he will make an estimated $46.7 million for the 2023-24 season. - Position: Point guard Because basketball stars are considered to be past their prime after 30, it would seem that a player who turns 38 in December 2022 shouldn't rank so high on this list. highest WebIf you're wondering how the highest-earning players in the NBA stack up financially against their major-sport counterparts, #1 Stephen Curry's $48.1 million is similar to the NFL's #1 earner, quarterback Aaron Rodgers ( $50.3 million) and the MLB's #1 earner, pitcher Max Scherzer ($43.3 million ). The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. Highest-paid NBA Players of 2022 by Total Salary. [5] Finally, the rookie player exception allows any NBA team to sign their first-round draft pick to a contract based upon a scale previously set forth by the NBA. And with the way James is still playing, it's not out of the question he signs another big deal after that. According to 201011 NBA season game performance, the league's best players were not its highest-paid players. Butler, who sold $20 cups of coffee out of his hotel room to fellow players in the NBAs 2020 playoff bubble in Florida, is now turning that half-serious side hustle into a legitimate business, announcing this month that he has joined Shopifys creator program with his coffee brand, Bigface. https://t.co/i9jlOomG1g. Not at all, but who knows what impact a premature playoff exit by Boston could have? He's averaged more than 20 points per game for three straight seasons and had an average of 20.1 per game in the 2021-22 season. Career stats: 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists. - Position: Shooting guard Curry is set to make nearly $46 million in the final year of his current deal, but the money train will just keep on rolling. Kevin Durant is currently one of the five highest-paid basketball players in his league, with a salary of US$42 million annually, per Celebrity Net Worth. Top 10 highest-paid NBA players - 2022-23 Salary: $37,096,500. Is a Jaylen Brown trade likely this summer? Boardroom is a media network that covers the business of sports, entertainment. Golden State Warriors. Who are the highest-paid NBA players? For now, its Giannis Antetokounmpo. One thing to know: Some NBA analysts mocked the Bulls for giving DeRozan an $82 million contract last summer, but he made it look like a good deal by averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game. Chris Paul ranks ninth this year. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. 76ers vs. Celtics: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Heat vs. Knicks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Draymond Green: '[Malik] Monk said we was old', Klay Thompson on matchup against Lakers: 'It's just a dream come true. While other active players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant have enjoyed similarly decorated careers, Stephen Curry truly changed the game. Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more. - Position: Shooting guard Kyrie Irving's controversial comments and refusal to get the COVID vaccine have driven coaches and fans a little crazy, but he remains one of the game's best shootersand remains with the Nets even with the recent departure of James Harden and rumors of a Kevin Durant trade. Starring for the Brooklyn Nets after a blockbuster trade in January, James Harden ties with John Wallcoincidentally a member of his old team, the Houston Rocketsfor the NBAs second-highest salary this season, with a $47.4 million player option for next year. WebWith the NBAs highest salary ($34.4 million) and a new Under Armour brand, Steph Curry ranks second: Hes slated to earn a golden $74.4 million this season. "We'll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time," Brown told The Ringer's Logan Murdock. Combined, the NBAs ten top-earning players are set to make $714 million, up 28% from 2020-21 and 19% from the previous high of $600 million from 2019-20. Klay Thompson, SG. - Position: Center your CMS. - Position: Center One thing to know: Howard ranks ninth in all-time earnings, but he has never signed a deal worth over $100 million, a sign of his longevity in the league. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Here's a look at the 10 all-time highest-earning NBA players, including both active and inactive players: Despite James' nearly two-decade dominance on the court, his career earnings have only just eclipsed that of younger stars in the league. - Position: Shooting guard But "King James" is a man as ageless and critical to a team's success as fellow "senior" Tom Brady in the NFL. storytelling. Earlier this year, he became the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status, according to Forbes. First, teams can simply pay their best players more. Since Trae Young is still only 24 years old, the Hawks have a little time to wait on Williams' development. Whatever they envisioned for the 2022-23 campaign could not have been this. LeBron James becomes highest-paid player in NBA history - CNBC Highest-Paid Basketball Player Career stats: 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists. The Clippers miss his scoring prowess24.8 points per game in 2020-21 before he signed a four-year, $176.3 million contractand then he missed the entire 2021-22 season after ACL surgery. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. To publish, simply grab the HTML code or text to the left and paste into The duo signed with Memphis during the November early signing period as part of an acclaimed six-man recruiting class that is ranked No. NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. James is 37, but the rest of the players on this list are in their twenties or early thirties. Highest-paid Players in the NBA Larry Bird was the first player to earn $5 million or more with a salary of $7,070,000 in the 1991-92 season. The good news: He helped lead them to the 2022 NBA title and has avoided injuries since then, though his 33% three-point shooting through 15 games in 2022-23 suggests he's still searching for his shot. - Position: Point guard Paul George, unquestionably the Los Angeles Clippers on-court leader with Kawhi Leonard sidelined by a knee injury, has a four-year, $190 million contract extension kicking in this season. Warriors PG Stephen Curry: $45,780,966. - 2022-23 Salary: $40,600,080. Bottom line: Teach your son to shoot hoops! This is a BETA experience. With his $41.2 million salary for the upcoming 2021-22 season and an estimated $70 million from his ventures off the court, the Los Angeles Lakers star is set to haul in $111.2 million in a single year, demolishing the NBA earnings record of $96.5 million he established over the 12 months ending in May. - 2022-23 Salary: $37,633,050. (And check out Boardrooms salary roundups for NFL and MLB players, too.). Yet for all that success, Antetokounmpo is still only 26the only member of this top ten still under 30. His all-around stellar play earned him the richest rookie contract extension in NBA history: $207 million for five years. 22 But I will stay where I'm wanted. WebRT @AndrewPetcash: At his peak, Dennis Rodman was the 10th highest-paid player in the NBA. - Team: Los Angeles Lakers James lent his likeness to Epic Games Fortnite video game in July and joined home gym company Tonal as an investor and brand ambassador just this week. There are better post defenders and perimeter stoppers, but few players who can execute both roles at such a high level. Rodman's career highlights include: - 2x NBA All-Star - 5x NBA Champion - 7x NBA Rebounding Champion - 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year So, what happened? He got off to a slow 2022-23 start, though his 7.2 assists per game is solid. Awards: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x All-Defensive, Career stats: 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists. As we dive into the salaries of WNBA players, however, the difference is stark. Golden State Warriors. No NBA player will make more than Stephen Curry in salary this season, and thats before the four-year, $215 million contract extension he signed with the Golden State Warriors in August kicks in. James is not expected to pocket much cash from the deal, instead reinvesting the bulk of the proceeds into the business, a source close to the transaction tells Forbes. To that end, most Stacker stories are freely available to His magic from beyond the arc is literally game-changing and legendary, but he's also the glue holding the Warriors together as they claimed four NBA titles between 2015 and 2022. She often slams the pay disparity with the NBA and advocates for better treatment of players like their counterparts in Asia and Europe. Whatever they envisioned for the 2022-23 campaign could not have been this. He has certainly lost a step since, and he fell out of favor with the Nets last year, but he might still have more to offer a contender in a limited role. Towns earned Rookie of the Year honors on the strength of 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves in 2015-16and he's averaged better than 21 points and 9 rebounds every season since. - Position: Point guard After missing the last two seasons because of leg injuries, Klay Thompson is nearing a return to the Golden State Warriors, with three years remaining on a contract he signed in 2019. - Position: Shooting guard The Forbes ranking of the NBAs highest-paid players reflects on-court earnings for the 2021-22 season, including base salaries and bonuses. - 2022-23 Salary: $36,934,550. Over the first 15 games of his 11th season for Portland in 2022-23, he averaged a solid 27.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, both better than his career average. Still, if the Chicago Bulls are anxious to build a winner around Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, maybe Atlanta can exploit that urgency and flip some of its win-now talent for Patrick Williams. James, for instance, is credited with receiving $41.2 million on the court, up from the $31.4 million Forbes assigned him for 2020-21. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The Heat handed him a four-year, $184 million contract extension in 2021 for all that versatility. the highest paid NBA player Top 5 NBA players Under Armour, which pays him $20 million a year, launched Curry Brand in December, hoping to challenge Nikes Jordan Brand, and he last month announced a major endorsement deal with cryptocurrency platform FTX. Pascal Siakam's team-leading 26 points (tied with Kyle Lowry) in the deciding Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals made fans sit up and pay attention to the lad from Cameroon. basketball LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, making him the highest-paid player in NBA history, as first reported by ESPN. The 31-year-old has three years and a player option for a fourth remaining on his contract. Larry Bird was the first player to earn $5 million or more with a salary of $7,070,000 in the 1991-92 season. You may also like: How many Olympic athletes hail from every state in the US, - Team: Washington Wizards Kevin Durant was part of the Nets' grand but ultimately failed experiment in putting three superstars on the teamalong with Kyrie Irving and James Hardenbut he and Irving are still Nets despite grumblings about leaving. It's a huge sliding doors moment for the Wolves.If he doesn't get All NBA this year, the Wolves will have to wait an additional 12 months to offer him an extension. - Position: Small forward Despite losing nearly $1 million while taking a pause in January 2021, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is still eighth with $43 million. With the new deal, James will make at least $528.9 million in guaranteed money during his career, surpassing Kevin Durant in all-time earnings, according to salary-tracking site Spotrac. The team rewarded the 6-foot-5 guard with a four-year, $224 million contract extension in July 2022which he deserved after becoming only the seventh player to score 40 points in back-to-back games in a (2021) NBA Finals. The superstar guard of the Golden State Warriors is the highest-paid player in the NBA with a $48m salary. Curry, a four-time champion, is under contract with the team until the end of the 2025-26 season and will earn a total of $215.3 million. Atlanta has several intriguing trade candidates (John Collins says hello), but after buying big on Murray, it might be looking to add instead of subtract. - 2022-23 Salary: $43,279,250. Whether his synergy with LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will turn the season around after the Lakers' dismal 3-10 start remains to be seen. He cannot be expected to be impartial on any matter regarding the Florida Gators or Atlanta Braves. Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images. - 2022-23 Salary: $33,665,040. - Position: Shooting guard These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Antetokounmpo is as hard to stop as his name is to pronounce. Who else is making the big bucks? A four-year, $198 million contract extension in 2021 put the 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP (for the Warriors) fourth on this listwhile his averages of 30.6 points and 5.2 assists early in 2022-23 led the team. The NBA announced in August that the salary cap has been set at $112.414 million for the 2021-22 season, an approximately three percent jump from the previous campaign. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Stephen Curry, who tops this list, maybe the better-known "Splash Brother," but his longtime teammate has a splashier comeback story. That trio has to start playing with more collective impact to finish this season or we have to revisit the build. 1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (highest paid NBA player) Back in August of 2021, Curry became the first player in Association history to sign two NBA contracts worth north of $200 million. In doing so, the four-time champion set the bar in a big way. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers: $47,063,478. Not counted in KDs earnings? - Position: Power forward Create or join a NBA league and manage your team with live scoring, stats, scouting reports, news, and expert advice. One thing to know: Conley may not have made many All-Star teams, but he's always been among the steadiest, two-way guards in the NBA and a fit on any team. The NBAs highest-paid players are set to collect more than $305 million combined off the court, easily beating last years record total of $260 million. He has continued to pick up sponsors during his time away, recently adding Hugo Boss and Shake Shack to a portfolio that also includes healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente and Tissot watches. LeBron James: Current figure is $387.3 million Chris Paul: Current figure is $330.7 million Kevin Durant: Current figure is $306.1 million Russel Westbrook: Current figure is $288 million James Harden: Current figure is $268.8 million. - Position: Point guard - Team: Brooklyn Nets Of course, LeBron James is the leagues highest-paid player, trailed by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.