This article will tell you about the top 10 highest-paid NBA players this year.
Since his debut in the NBA in 2003 as “The Chosen One” at the age of 18, LeBron James has amassed an impressive on-court resume.
Highlights include being the league’s all-time top scorer, appearing in 10 NBA finals, winning four NBA championships, and being named to the All-NBA first team 13 times.
His off-the-court game may be even more impressive. James’ career earnings from salary and endorsements are expected to total $1.4 billion by the end of this season, placing him fourth all-time after Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s amassed a substantial portfolio of equity stakes in firms and founded a school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
This season, James is expected to make around $128 million, which is 25% more than any other NBA player.
NBA stars are reaping the benefits of rising player salaries as well as their ability to be global brands. This season, the top 15 will earn more than $1 billion, with off-court earnings accounting for 34% of the total.
Following James, the top five are Stephen Curry ($101.9 million), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($90.6 million), Kevin Durant ($88.4 million), and Klay Thompson ($64.2 million).
Highest Paid NBA Players 2023 List
| Rank | Player | Team | Total Earnings | Salary | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | $127.6M | $47.6M | $80M |
| 2 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $101.9M | $51.9M | $50M |
| 3 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | $90.6M | $45.6M | $45M |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | $88.4M | $46.4M | $42M |
| 5 | Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors | $64.2M | $43.2M | $21M |
| 6 | Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | $62.6M | $45.6M | $17M |
| 7 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $56.6M | $47.6M | $9M |
| 8 | James Harden | Philadelphia 76ers | $55.6M | $35.6M | $20M |
| 9 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | $54.6M | $47.6M | $7M |
| 10 | Paul George | Los Angeles Lakers | $54.1M | $45.6M | $8.5M |
| 11 | Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns | $53.2M | $46.7M | $6.5M |
| 12 | Jimmy Butler | Miami Heat | $52.7M | $45.2M | $7.5M |
| 13 | Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | $52.6M | $45.6M | $7M |
| 14 | Luka Dončić | Dallas Mavericks | $52M | $40M | $12M |
| 15 | Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans | $50M | $34M | $16M |
James and Curry have remained must-see TV throughout their careers, winning six MVP awards in eight years between 2008-09 and 2015-16, and appearing in 16 NBA Finals.
It’s one of the reasons marketers are drawn to both players, whose estimated off-court earnings of $80 million for James and $50 million for Curry are the most in the sport.
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors both made the playoffs despite having inconsistent regular seasons.
The NBA’s TV partners were ecstatic when they both won first-round series against better seeds. Their semifinal series was the most-watched in nearly 30 years, a lifetime ago in the TV landscape.
