The debate among fans regarding which NBA player earns the highest salary is never-ending. This article aims to provide a list of the top ten players who earn the most money in the NBA.
1. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown has signed a contract worth $304 million over a span of 5 years. On average, he will earn a salary of $60.8 million per year. Jaylen Brown has dedicated himself to improving his skills and has become a highly skilled player in the league over the past seven seasons. In the 2022-2023 season, he not only made his second appearance in the All-Star game but also earned a place on an All-NBA team. This outstanding performance allowed him to qualify for a supermax deal during the offseason. Consequently, the Boston Celtics offered him an enormous contract that makes him the highest-paid player in NBA history.
2. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
Damian Lillard has signed a two-year contract extension worth $121.77 million, making his average salary $60.8 million. Although he will officially become the highest-paid NBA player in 2025-26, Lillard has already secured a top spot on this list with his recent extension. Despite some challenges faced by his team, Lillard has consistently proven himself as a highly skilled player. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether he will complete his extension with the Portland Trail Blazers.
3. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker has signed a contract worth $234.57 million for a duration of 4 years. His average salary is $58.64 million. Booker has been a key player for the Phoenix Suns since a young age and has remained loyal to the team despite their ups and downs. Despite being known for his exceptional offensive skills, Booker’s main focus now is to lead the Suns back to the NBA Finals after being eliminated early in the playoffs for the past two seasons.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns has signed a contract worth $234.57 million for a duration of 4 years. His annual salary is $58.64 million. Towns being among the top 10 highest-paid NBA players is not seen as a positive for the Minnesota Timberwolves. In fact, there have been rumors that he might be traded during the off-season.
5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic has signed a contract worth $276.08 million for a duration of 5 years. His average salary is $55.2 million per year. This deal is considered one of the most lucrative contracts in NBA history in terms of yearly average. Additionally, the contract includes a player option worth $60 million for the 2027-28 season. It is an understatement to say that Jokic has earned this contract, as he has had an exceptional two-year performance, making him a valuable asset for the Nuggets, who recently won their first NBA championship.
6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry signed a contract worth $215.35 million for a duration of four years. His average salary is $54.84 million. In August 2021, Curry made history by becoming the first player to sign two NBA contracts worth over $200 million. This sets a high standard for future contracts. However, this comes at a significant cost for the Golden State Warriors. When Curry’s contract ends in 2025-26, he will have a cap hit of $59.61 million. Despite the high cost, Curry has proven his worth to the team. He has led the Warriors to four championships and six NBA Finals appearances in just eight years.
7. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid’s contract is worth $213.25 million over four years. His average salary is $53.31 million. It is surprising to see how far Embiid has come considering he missed his first two NBA seasons due to a foot injury. As Philadelphia’s first-round pick in 2014, he has had a long journey to becoming a superstar.
8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards has signed a contract worth up to $260 million over a span of 5 years. On average, he will earn a salary of $52 million per season. Three years ago, there were doubts about Anthony Edwards’ passion for basketball. However, the doubts are now considered ridiculous as Edwards has emerged as one of the top young players in the sport. He even received an All-Star selection at the age of 21 last season. Currently, Edwards is the main figure of the Minnesota Timberwolves team.
9. Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns
Bradley Beal’s contract is worth $251 million over a span of 5 years. On average, he earns a salary of $50.2 million per year. Beal, a player who has been selected as an All-Star three times, is highly respected in the league. This is one of the reasons why teams were always eager to trade for him, given his focus on scoring as a shooting guard.
Eventually, he was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns in a significant move. Beal, who is currently 29 years old, has a contract that will keep him in Phoenix until he turns 33. However, it is important to note that the last year of the contract is a player option, which is estimated to be valued at approximately $57.1 million.
10. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James signed a contract worth $99.01 million for a duration of 2 years. His average salary is $49.50 million. LeBron James’ contract situation became a major topic of discussion after his Lakers had a disappointing 2021-22 season, finishing with 49 losses. At the age of 38, James was scheduled to become a free agent after the 2022-23 season. However, he signed a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid NBA players, with the potential to earn over $50 million at age 40.
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