56 of the Highest-Paid NBA Players
The highest-paid NBA players by season have topped $40 million. Yes, Four Zero. Russell Westbrook tops the list at over 41 million a year. New York Patrick Ewing was the first basketball player to earn more than 15 million a season in 1995. Boston Celtic Larry Bird was the first to earn 5 million a year.
Magic and Micheal Got Paid even for Todays Standards
Magic Johnson was the first to receive more than 10 million a year. But it is only Michael Jordan’s salary that is still comparable to the astronomical contracts signed today.
He was the first NBA player to sign a deal worth over $30 million in a season, a long-standing record that he had held for 15 years. In 1997–98
Chicago Bull Micheal Jordan agreed to $33,140,000. Kobe Bryant becomes just the second player to reach this milestone when the 2013–14 season began. LeBron James making over 30 million, became the third player in the 2016–17 season.
Steph Curry Breaking 3-pt and Salary Records
Stephen Curry became the first player to top $40 million per year signing a 5-year contract for $201 million in 2017. The Golden State Warriors believed they got a bargain. The NBA is on a high right now. Players are loving the newfound prosperity and fan growth is steadily increasing. Here is an NBA Player list of the Top 55 highest-paid players in the NBA.
Thanks to the large TV contracts, licensing deals and oversees growth the NBA has seen astronomical revenue growth.
NBA TV Contracts and Salaries
The NBA’s upper hand in salaries versus the NFL marks a huge leap forward. Salary growth is taking NBA players from highly paid athletes to legitimate economic game-changers. In the past, Kobe Bryant was the only NBA player with an average base salary larger than the NFL Player’s top-paid athletes.
TNT and ESPN Have Helped Boost NBA Salaries
The instigating factor is the NBA’s $24 billion TV deal with ESPN and TNT that started in 2016 and caused a massive up spike in the salary growth and contract money available. The money on the table has transformed all levels of basketball. AAU, Oversees leagues and developmental league basketball has also witnessed exposure and salary growth. If you want to be a high paid athlete basketball is a good place to start.
NBA Player Salary: How Much Money Is the NBA Average?
During the 2018-19 season, the average NBA salary was $6,388,007.This is great money for a professional athlete. The NBA pays players well but they ask a lot during the 82 game season. Additionally, the NBA has a large difference in salary ranges.
Some players making a couple hundred thousand due to 2-way developmental contracts and NBA league play. While others are paid like superstars. The NBA is one of the few sports that have recognizable stars. Everyone knows there face. If I asked you to point out 10 of the highest-paid MLB baseball players you could not do it. NBA players are deserving of the money based on the production, lack of anonymity and marketing value they create.
The minimum NBA salary ranges from $838,464 to $2,393,887, per Hoops Hype.
The minimum amount of NBA money a player can make depends on his experience, potential, age, previous production, and representation.
The NBA rookie minimum salary is $838,464, while a NBA veteran with 10 or more years of National Basketball Association experience can make no less than $2,393,887.NBA players start their careers with a contract based on where they are drafted position. Free agency is based on production, potential, and leverage.
LISTED AS:
- NAME
- CONTRACT YEARS
- POSITION,
- TEAM
- AGE
- CONTRACT LENGTH
- TOTAL CONTRACT PAY
- AMOUNT GUARANTEED
- CURRENT YEAR SALARY
- FREE AGENCY
Highest Paid NBA Players 2029
1. Russell Westbrook
- (2018-2022),
- PG,
- HOUSTON
- 31
- 5
- $206,794,070.00
- 100,
- $41,358,814.00
- 2023
2. Stephen Curry,
- (2017-2021),
- PG,
- GSW,
- 31,5,
- $201,158,790.00,
- 100.00%,
- $40,231,758.00,
- 2022,
3. Damian Lillard,
- (2021-2024),
- PG,
- POR,
- 29,
- 4,
- $196,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $49,000,000.00,
- 2025,
4. Klay Thompson,
- (2019-2023),
- SG,
- GSW,
- 29,
- 5,
- $189,903,600.00,
- 100.00%,
- $37,980,720.00,
- 2024,
5. Tobias Harris,
- (2019-2023),
- SF,
- PHI,
- 27,
- 5,
- $180,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $36,000,000.00,
- 2024,
6. Khris Middleton,
- (2019-2023),
- SF,
- 28,
- 28,
- 5,
- $177,500,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $35,500,000.00,
- 2024,
7. Blake Griffin,
- (2017-2021),
- PF,
- DET,
- 30,
- 5,
- $171,174,820.00,
- 100.00%,
- $34,234,964.00,
- 2022,
8. James Harden,
- (2019-2022),
- SG,
- HOU,
- 30,
- 4,
- $171,131,520.00,
- 100.00%,
- $42,782,880.00,
- 2023,
9. John Wall,
- (2019-2022),
- PG,
- WAS,
- 29,
- 4,
- $171,131,520.00,
- 100.00%,
- $42,782,880.00,
- 2023,
10. Jamal Murray,
- (2020-2024),
- PG,
- DEN,
- 22,5,
- $169,650,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $33,930,000.00,
- 2025,
11. Ben Simmons,
- (2020-2024),
- PG,
- PHI,
- 23,
- 5,
- $169,650,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $33,930,000.00,
- 2025,
12. Kevin Durant,
- (2019-2022),
- SF,
- BKN,
- 31,
- 4,
- $164,255,700.00,
- 97.38%,
- $41,063,925.00,
- 2023,
13. Chris Paul,
- (2018-2021),
- PG,
- OKC,
- 34,
- 4,
- $159,730,592.00,
- 100.00%,
- $39,932,648.00,
- 2022,
14. Karl-Anthony Towns,
- (2019-2023),
- C,
- MIN,
- 24,
- 5,
- $158,253,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $31,650,600.00,
- 2024,
15. Devin Booker,
- (2019-2023),
- SG,
- PHX,
- 23,
- 5,
- $158,253,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $31,650,600.00,
- 2024,
16. Kristaps Porzingis,
- (2019-2023),
- PF,
- DAL,
- 24,
- 5,
- $158,253,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $31,650,600.00,
- 2024,
17. LeBron James,
- (2018-2021),
- SF,
- LAL,
- 34,
- 4,
- $153,312,846.00,
- 100.00%,
- $38,328,212.00,
- 2022,
18. Mike Conley,
- (2016-2020),
- PG,
- UTH,
- 32,
- 5,
- $152,605,576.00,
- 92.09%,
- $30,521,115.00,
- 2021,
19. Andrew Wiggins,
- (2018-2022),
- SF,
- MIN,
- 24,
- 5,
- $147,710,050.00,
- 100.00%,
- $29,542,010.00,
- 2023,
20. Joel Embiid,
- (2018-2022),
- C,
- PHI,
- 25,
- 5,
- $147,710,050.00,
- 100.00%,
- $29,542,010.00,
- 2023,
21. Nikola Jokic,
- (2018-2022),
- C,
- DEN,
- 24,
- 5,
- $147,710,050.00,
- 96.62%,
- $29,542,010.00,
- 2023,
22. Kemba Walker,
- (2019-2023),
- PG,
- BOS,
- 29,
- 4,
- $140,790,600.00,
- 100.00%,
- $35,197,650.00,
- 2024,
23. Jimmy Butler,
- (2019-2022),
- SG,
- MIA,
- 30,
- 4,
- $140,790,600.00,
- 100.00%,
- $35,197,650.00,
- 2023,
24. Damian Lillard,
- (2016-2020),
- PG,
- POR,
- 29,
- 5,
- $139,888,445.00,
- 100.00%,
- $27,977,689.00,
- 2020,
25. DeMar DeRozan,
- (2016-2020),
- SG,
- SAS,
- 30,
- 5,
- $139,000,000.00,
- 98.92%,
- $27,800,000.00,
- 2021,
26. Paul George,
- (2018-2021),
- SF,
- LAC,
- 29,
- 4,
- $136,911,936.00,
- 100.00%,
- $34,227,984.00,
- 2022,
27. Kyrie Irving,
- (2019-2022),
- PG,
- BKN,
- 27,
- 4,
- $136,490,600.00,
- 100.00%,
- $34,122,650.00,
- 2023,
28. Jrue Holiday,
- (2017-2021),
- PG,
- NOP,
- 29,
- 5,
- $131,805,000.00,
- 97.21%,
- $26,361,000.00,
- 2022,
29. Pascal Siakam,
- (2020-2023),
- PF,
- TOR,
- 25,
- 4,
- $129,920,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $32,480,000.00,
- 2024,
30. Gordon Hayward,
- (2017-2020),
- SF,
- BOS,
- 29,
- 4,
- $127,829,970.00,
- 100.00%,
- $31,957,493.00,
- 2021,
31. Anthony Davis,
- (2016-2020),
- PF,
- LAL,
- 26,
- 5,
- $127,171,313.00,
- 100.00%,
- $25,434,263.00,
- 2021,
32. Bradley Beal,
- (2016-2020),
- SG,
- WAS,
- 26,
- 5,
- $127,171,313.00,
- 100.00%,
- $25,434,263.00,
- 2021,
33. Andre Drummond,
- (2016-2020),
- C,
- DET,
- 26,
- 5,
- $127,171,313.00,
- 100.00%,
- $25,434,263.00,
- 2021,
34. Kevin Love,
- (2019-2022),
- C,
- CLE,
- 31,
- 4,
- $120,402,172.00,
- 100.00%,
- $30,100,543.00,
- 2023,
35. Nicolas Batum,
- (2016-2020),
- SG,
- CHA,
- 30,
- 5,
- $120,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $24,000,000.00,
- 2021,
36. D’Angelo Russell,
- (2019-2022),
- PG,
- GSW,
- 23,
- 4,
- $117,325,500.00,
- 100.00%,
- $29,331,375.00,
- 2023,
37. Marc Gasol,
- (2015-2019),
- C,
- TOR,
- 34,
- 5,
- $113,211,750.00,
- 100.00%,
- $22,642,350.00,
- 2020,
38. Al Horford,
- (2019-2022),
- C,
- PHI,
- 33,
- 4,
- $109,000,000.00,
- 88.99%,
- $27,250,000.00,
- 2023,
39. Jaylen Brown,
- (2020-2023),
- SG,B
- OS,
- 23,
- 4,
- $107,000,000.00,
- 96.26%,
- $26,750,000.00,
- 2024,
40. C.J. McCollum,
- (2017-2020),
- SG,
- POR,
- 28,
- 4,
- $106,633,449.00,
- 100.00%,
- $26,658,362.00,
- 2021,
41. Otto Porter,Jr.,
- (2017-2020),
- SF,
- 26,
- 4,
- $106,524,975.00,
- 100.00%,
- $26,631,244.00,
- 2021,
42. Kawhi Leonard,
- (2019-2021),
- SF,
- LAC,
- 28,
- 3,
- $103,137,300.00,
- 100.00%,
- $34,379,100.00,
- 2022,
43. Rudy Gobert,
- (2017-2020),
- C,
- UTH,
- 27,
- 4,
- $102,000,000.00,
- 92.16%,
- $25,500,000.00,
- 2021,
44. C.J. McCollum,
- (2021-2023),
- SG,
- POR,
- 28,
- 3,
- $100,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $33,333,333.00,
- 2024,
45. Kyle Lowry,
- (2017-2019),
- PG,
- TOR,
- 33,
- 3,
- $100,000,000.00,
- 93.00%,
- $33,333,333.00,
- 2020,
46. Steven Adams,
- (2017-2020),
- C,
- OKC,
- 26,
- 4,
- $100,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $25,000,000.00,
- 2021,
47. Giannis Antetokounmpo,
- (2017-2020),
- PF,
- MIL,
- 24,
- 4,
- $100,000,000.00,
- 100.00%
- $25,000,000.00,
- 2021,
48. Nikola Vucevic,
- (2019-2022)
- ,C,
- ORL,
- 29,
- 4,
- $100,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $25,000,000.00,
- 2023,
49. Draymond Green,
- (2020-2023),
- PF,
- GSW,
- 29,
- 4,
- $99,666,362.00,
- 100.00%,
- $24,916,591.00,
- 2024,
50. Hassan Whiteside,
- (2016-2019),
- C,
- POR,
- 30,
- 4,
- $98,419,538.00,
- 100.00%,
- $24,604,885.00,
- 2020,
51. Chandler Parsons,
- (2016-2019),
- SF,
- ATL,
- 31,
- 4,
- $94,438,523.00,
- 100.00%,
- $23,609,631.00,
- 2020,
52. Buddy Hield,
- (2020-2023),
- SG,
- SAC,
- 25,
- 4,
- $94,000,000.00,
- 91.49%,
- $23,500,000.00,
- 2024,
53. Paul Millsap,
- (2017-2019),
- PF,
- DEN,
- 34,
- 3,
- $90,000,000.00,
- 100.00%,
- $30,000,000.00,
- 2020,
54. Clint Capela,
- (2018-2022),
- C,
- HOU,
- 25,
- 5,
- $90,000,000.00,
- 88.89%,
- $18,000,000.00,
- 2023,
55. Goran Dragic,
- (2015-2019),
- PG,
- MIA,
- 33,
- 5,
- $85,002,250.00,
- 100.00%,
- $17,000,450.00,
- 2020,
56. Harrison Barnes,
- (2019-2022),
- SF,
- SAC,
- 27,
- 4,
- $85,000,000,
- 100.00%,
- 2023
Who is the highest paid NBA player in 2018?
1. Stephen Curry — $37.5 million 2. Blake Griffin — $31.9 million 3. Gordon Hayward — $31.2 million 4. Kyle Lowry — $31 million 5. Paul George — $30.6 million
Who is the highest paid NBA player 2020?
Russell Westbrook - $41,358,814.00
Who has made the most money in the NBA?
LeBron James -$306,984,009
What sport pays the most?
1. Basketball - $4.9 million 2.Major League Baseball. Average Salary: $3.82 million 3.Ice Hockey NHL Average Salary: $2.58 million 4.American Football NFLAverage Salary: $2 million 5.Premier League Soccer Average Salary: $1.6 million
More NBA Salary information:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-team-salaries-at-a-glance/