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The NBA has grown in popularity exponentially since the 1980s, bringing in absurd amounts of money from angles in the modern era. Michael Jordan certainly led the way, becoming the first billionaire out of the NBA. Due to the outstanding athleticism and professionalism of their players, the NBA has turned some of its biggest stars into global icons.
Top-notch NBA players can now make $50,000,000+ annually in salary, and this is before endorsement deals. Between ad campaigns, sneaker deals and more, some more NBA players are on their way to billionaire status. Keep reading as we dive into the highest-paid NBA players below.
When talking about the highest-paid NBA players, the list always needs to start with LeBron James. LeBron came out of high school as one of the most anticipated professional athletes of all time, and he went on to meet and exceed the expectations set for him.
King James now stands alone at the top as the highest-scoring NBA player of all time, and he still has gas left in the tank. He will go down as arguably the greatest basketball player ever, with Michael Jordan still holding a solid argument in the GOAT debate. Being the athletic freak and great family man that he is, it is no surprise that LeBron has gained worldwide celebrity status in his 21 years in the league.
His four championship rings are impressive in their own right, but his finances are even more eye-opening. LeBron James is still currently making $47,610,000 yearly in salary at age 39. His career NBA earnings amount to $479.5 million at this point, and that is before endorsements.
In 2022, LeBron James made $126.9 million in total earnings, thanks to his whopping salary and massive deals with AT&T, Walmart, Kia, Intel, and more. This was also the year that he officially reached billionaire status, and the King’s fortune just continued to grow with time, making him one of the highest-paid NBA players.
The NBA is jam-packed with superstar players who have turned themselves into pop culture icons, and one household name that needs to be mentioned is Stephen Curry. Curry came into the league as an underdog, as he was an undersized guard from Davidson College who was picked 7th in the 2009 NBA Draft.
His shooting ability was well respected, but nobody could’ve predicted the legacy he would create. Steph Curry would go on to be the greatest decision ever made by the Golden State Warriors, as he is now well regarded as the greatest shooter of all time and arguably the greatest point guard the game has ever seen.
Curry has won four championship rings with the Warriors, and he’s gathered quite a fortune along the way. His current contract makes him approximately $52,000,000 per year, and he’s also made around $50,000,000 in endorsement deals through the 2023-24 season. Steph also likes to show off his golf skills, as he plays around a scratch handicap and appears at whatever celebrity outings he can make it to.
His current endorsements include deals with 2K Sports, Callaway Golf, CarMax, Google, JPMorgan, Under Armour and more. At the pace he’s on, it’s safe to say the greatest shooter of all time will likely become a billionaire sooner rather than later, cementing himself as one of the highest-paid NBA players.
Kevin Durant is known as one of the best pure scorers the NBA has ever seen, and his amazing skill set at nearly seven feet tall makes him a complete freak of nature and one of the highest-paid NBA players. KD infamously left the Oklahoma City Thunder to create a superteam with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, winning multiple championships in the process.
Although this move may have slightly hurt his reputation with NBA fans, it certainly didn’t hurt his pockets. Now playing with the Phoenix Suns, the 35-year-old Durant is making $47.5 million per year in salary, with a whopping $45.5 million more coming in the form of endorsements.
His biggest sponsors include Nike, FanDuel, Fanatics and 2K Sports. If Durant stays healthy and continues down this path, he could also reach billionaire status before it’s all said and done.
Brian has been a sports writer since 2022, but his love for sports has been lifelong. He is a fan of all sports and specializes in MLB, NFL, NBA and NCAA basketball. He’s especially passionate about the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and UNC Tar Heels.