According to Forbes, 35 NBA players are set to make a minimum of USD 28 Million before escrow payments this season, well ahead of the top 10 NFL players and seven in MLB as well. Now, the 2021-22 session has just tipped off in a quite familiar fashion, and we are eager to see the highest NBA player salaries, bonuses, and endorsements that are expected to be paid by NBA.
- LeBron James - $154 million
- Kevin Durant - $145 million
- Steph Curry - $123 million
- James Harden - $122 million
- Anthony Davis - $121 million
- Kawhi Leonard - $119 million
- Blake Griffin - $117 million
- Damian Lillard - $116 million
Top 10 Highest Paid NBA Players
1. LeBron James
LeBron James is the highest paid player in the NBA for seven years running, with his off-court income factored in. ..
LeBron James is set to make an estimated $95.4 million this year, including salary and endorsements. However, the global pandemic has slowed his endorsements, but King James managed to generate an estimated $64 million. This year, his earnings are set to hit $1billion. While still being an active athlete, his high earnings make him join the three comma club and Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Floyd Mayweather, and Tiger Woods.
LeBron James left Coca-Cola to promote Pepsi after the two parties failed to reach an agreement for a contract extension. He retains the endorsement contracts with Walmart, Nike, AT&T, Rimowa, Blaze Pizza, Beats, and GMC.
James has been known for his unbeleivable keto transformation and some of the most inspiring quotes said by him. One of his powerful quotes is “you have to be able to accept failure to get better.” James’ unbeleivable keto transformation has helped him become one of the most successful basketball players in history.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a salary of $31 million, and they earn $64 million in endorsements. Their total earnings come to $95.4 million. ..
2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. He has won MVP Awards and led the Warriors to two championships during his four-year stint with them.
The Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in San Francisco, California. The team is currently playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Warriors were founded in 1946 and have won six NBA championships. They also reached the playoffs four times, including three times in a row from 2014-2018.
3. Kevin Durant
In November 2020, Durant scored when Uber bought a food delivery service, Postmates, for USD 2.65 billion. Durant had invested in this start-up back in 2016 at a discounted entry price in return for his endorsements. He converted his initial USD 1 million stakes into USD 15 million roughly.
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the most successful teams in the NBA, with a salary of $31.2 million and endorsements totaling $34 million. Their total earnings are $65.2 million. ..
4. Russel Westbrook
Westbrook has had a number of endorsements drop off in recent years, despite his consistent poor play and streaky form. His earnings have not been impacted, as he struck gold with a partnership with Nike which paid him over $58 million. He also has a strong portfolio of car dealerships with ten dealerships in Southern California. ..
The Washington Wizards have a salary of USD 33 million, and they earn USD 25 million in endorsements. This totals to USD 58.1 million. ..
5. James Harden
James’ Adidas deal pays an annual salary of $14 million, and he benefits from the endorsements of Body Armor, Stance, and Art or Sports. The 2018 NBA MVP has joined the smart home fragrance brand Pura as an investor and a creative director. ..
The Brooklyn Nets are a professional basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York. The team is part of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Nets were founded in 1976 and have played their home games at the Barclays Center since 2007. They have won six NBA championships, including three in a row from 2007-11.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 6th highest paid basketball player in the world, secured USD 228 million by signing a richest deal in the NBA’s history through a contract for a 5-year extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. According to Forbes, Disney locked up the rights of a film made on his life, a journey from Greece to the NBA’s stardom. The movie will be released in 2022. Giannis is the youngest of all the most paid NBA players at the age of 26.
The Milwaukee Bucks have a salary of $22 million and endorsements of $27 million, resulting in a total income of $49 million. ..
7. Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is the highest paid NBA player with a salary of USD 28.3 million and endorsements of USD 15 million. This totals to USD 43.3 million, making him eligible for the list of the top 10 highest paid NBA players. Thompson has been through several unlucky injury runs, but he still manages to make a lot of money. ..
In October, the basketball player and endorser of CBD brand Just Live joined Travis Pastrana, Paul Rodriguez, and Alex Morgan to launch Just Live. This brand aims to ensure fitness recovery with natural alternatives for painkillers. Furthermore, Thompon also has endorsement contracts with Mercedes Benz, Kaiser Permanente, and Tissot. But, most of his off-court income comes from the Chinese shoe partner Anta.
The Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in San Francisco, California. The team is currently playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Warriors were founded in 1946 and have won six NBA championships. They also reached the playoffs four times, including three times in a row from 2014-2018.
8. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving missed seven games last year with the Nets due to a COVID-19 protocol violation. Irving’s salary and endorsements are keeping him more than just comfortable, but a movie released in 2018, Uncle Drew, was inspired by a viral ad campaign of Kyrie Irving with Pepsi. ..
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the most successful teams in the NBA, with a salary of USD 26 million and endorsements of USD 17 million. They have made USD 43 million in total earnings. ..
9. Chris Paul
Chris Paul, the top NBA player with total earnings of $40.1 million, has the option to make an additional $44.2 million next season if he signs a new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. This increase in salary would come as a relief to many players who are on salaries that are much lower than those of their counterparts in other leagues.
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns were founded in 1988 and play their home games at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. The team has won six NBA championships, making them one of the most successful teams in league history. They have also been finalists in the playoffs four times.
10. Damian Lillard
Income from endorsements is a major source of income for NBA players. The highest-paid player in the NBA, LeBron James, makes an annual salary of USD 100 million. However, his endorsement income comes to an estimated USD 54 million. This leaves Damian Lillard as the tenth highest-paid player in the NBA with total earnings of USD 39 million.
Damian joined Gatorade’s product line, Bolt24, recently and it was launched in 2019. Damian told Forbes that “It is new now, but there will come a time when Bolt24 is a well-known thing.” An annual internship program was also launched by Damian last year for a half-dozen deprived students at high schools in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. ..
The Portland Trail Blazers have a salary of $25 million, and they earn $14 million in endorsements. Their total earnings are $39 million. ..
Final Words
The highest paid NBA players in the world for 2022 are Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. These three players make a combined total of $153 million. The next highest earners are Giannis Antetokounmpo with $88 million and Kyrie Irving with $75 million.
Despite all of their success on the court, NBA players are still able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle off of it. This is mainly due to the high salaries that they earn, which allows them to live comfortably no matter what. Out of all the NBA players, I think Stephen Curry is the best. Let me know in the comments below who you think is the best player in the league. ..
