Who Is The Highest Paid NBA Player Ever?

The NBA has a lot of endorsements and produces millions of views every game. As a result, the most commonly asked question may be, “Who is the highest paid NBA player right now?”

Basketball is home to some of the world’s wealthiest athletes, so it is undoubtedly to say that almost all players have handsome salaries. LeBron James is the NBA’s highest-paid player for the eighth consecutive season, taking the top 2023-24 season slot.

Let’s take a look at the top ten highest-paid NBA players for 2022 with Scott Fujita!

Who Is The Highest Paid Basketball Player In The NBA?

LeBron James is the NBA’s highest-paid player for the eighth consecutive season, taking the top 2023-24 season slot.

According to Forbes, James is the highest-paid NBA player, with a $111.2 million NBA earnings record. It includes $41.2 million coming from his NBA contract and $70 million from his many off-court endeavors. 

This 36-year-old player earns $32 million from his hefty Nike contract, asking in the successful video game Fortnite and new investment in-home fitness business Tonal. 

James also participated in the $161 million box office hit Space Jam: A New Legacy, produced by his entertainment and media business ‘The SpringHill Company’.

According to Forbes, James and his business partner Maverick Carter recently sold a minority share in the firm for $725 million to a consortium of investors, including Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital Partners, Nike, and Epic Games. 

His $111.2 million in profits is a new NBA record, surpassing James’ previous mark of $96.5 million established last season. He joins Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Conor McGregor as the only athletes to earn more than $100 million in a single year.

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Top 10 Highest Paid NBA Players In 2022

From the highest rank of the list, LeBron James to Jimmy Butler, they are on this list of the top ten highest-paid NBA players this season, thanks to their abilities are superb, and their god-given gifts are admirable.

1. LeBron James

Total Earnings: $111.2 million.

Salary: $41.2 million.

Endorsements: $70 million.

LeBron James

The King, LeBron James, still reigns supreme predictably. This player is on his way to becoming the NBA’s second billionaire, was able to earn an astonishing $70 million off the court ventures, with his Nike agreement alone earning $32 million each year. 

That statistic, along with his $41.2 million contract, was enough to propel him to the top of Forbes’ list of the highest-paid NBA players for the years 2021-23. 

Most notably, his entertainment and media company, the SpringHill Company, completed the sale of a minority share for $725 million. In July, James gave his name to Epic Games’ Fortnite, and just last week, he became an investor and brand ambassador for Tonal, a gym business.

2. Steph Curry

Total Earnings: $92.8 million.

Salary: $45.8 million.

Endorsements: $47 million.

Steph Curry, the NBA’s best shooter, is second on the list of highest-paid players this year. During that time, this Golden State Warriors and two-time MVP player earned a total of $92.8 million, including a stunning $47 million in off-court earnings. 

The launch of Curry’s new Under Armour-backed Curry brand has been the most significant development for him. This new enterprise, which sells a variety of footwear, clothes, and accessories across several sports, is valued at roughly $20 million per year. Still, that figure will rise if the brand takes off. 

Curry also has his production firm, Unanimous Media, which produced the competition show, Holey Moley. He also revealed a new sponsorship arrangement with bitcoin company FTX just last month.

3. Kevin Durant

Total Earnings: $87.9 million.

Salary: $40.9 million.

Endorsements: $47 million.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant’s contract is almost as big as he is, but the former MVP shined in December. Uber, a massive internet corporation, paid $2.65 billion for food-delivery service Postmates, a startup Durant had invested in 2016. 

According to Forbes, Durant’s buyout increased his initial investment from $1 million to $15 million. 

Durant’s business Thirty-Five Ventures has holdings in more than 80 firms, including investing applications Acorns and Robinhood, internet banking Mercury, fitness app WHOOP, and fantasy sports startup Sleeper.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Total Earnings: $80.3 million.

Salary: $39.3 million.

Endorsements: $41 million.

Without a doubt, reigning champion Giannis Antetokounmpo is among the highest-paid NBA players for the 2021-23 season. In December, the Greek Freak won the largest contract in NBA history with the Milwaukee Bucks, receiving a five-year contract extension for a record $228 million. 

Antetokounmpo, who is only 26 years old, is one of the youngest players on this list, so expect to see his stock climb in the coming years, especially if Disney has something to do with it. 

According to reports, the entertainment Mogul has secured the rights to a film on his life, which would chart his path from Greece to NBA team success. The film will be released in 2022, according to Forbes.

5. Russell Westbrook

Total Earnings: $74.2 million.

Salary: $44.2 million.

Endorsements: $30 million.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook has had an intriguing few years. Although a run of poor play has decreased the former MVP’s status, it has not affected his profits. 

Westbrook made an impressive $74.2 million in the previous year, with his Nike relationship and ten Southern California auto dealerships accounting for the majority of it.

6. James Harden

Total Earnings: $62.2 million.

Salary: $44.3 million.

Endorsements: $18 million.

James Harden has signed one of the most lucrative NBA contracts in history. Harden’s massive $44.3 million salaries have maintained the now-Brooklyn Net in top shape. 

Still, in December, he revealed that he had joined fragrance business Pura as a creative director and an investor. Harden is also supported by Stance, Art of Sport, and BodyArmor.

7. Damian Lillard

Total Earnings: $56.3 million.

Salary: $39.3 million.

Endorsements: $17 million.

Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard, the great guard for the Portland Trailblazers and a frequent All-NBA selection, has moved three positions on the list of the highest-paid NBA players this year. 

Much of his $39 million came from sponsorship deals and a major collaboration with Gatorade’s Bolt24 range of products. Perhaps even more impressive, Lillard started an annual intern program for a half-dozen disadvantaged students from Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago high schools last year.

8. Klay Thompson

Total Earnings: $54 million.

Salary: $38 million.

Endorsements: $16 million.

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors is still making a lot of money after suffering the most unfortunate injury stints in sports history. Just Live, a CBD brand, was launched this year by the All-Star alongside Alex Morgan, Paul Rodriguez, and Travis Pastrana. 

In addition, the wounded star has endorsements with Mercedes-Benz, Tissot, Kaiser Permanente, and Anta, a Chinese shoe company.

9. Paul George

Total Earnings: $47.8 million.

Salary: $39.3 million.

Endorsements: $8.5 million.

Paul George.

Paul George will earn his money this season for the Clippers without his co-star Kawhi Leonard for the foreseeable future. The 31-year-old’s motivation should be strong as he begins a four-year, $190 million contract deal. Nike, AT&T, Gatorade, and most recently, Tonal, an in-home gym firm, are among his partners.

10. Jimmy Butler

Total Earnings: $47 million.

Salary: $36 million.

Endorsements: $11 million.

Jimmy Buckets rounds out the top ten highest-paid NBA players for 2012-22 with a nice contract and significant off-court changes. 

The Miami Heat player, who signed with Chinese shoe manufacturer Li-Ning last year, is the largest partner in an endorsement portfolio that includes Jaybird headphones and Tag Heuer watches. Butler’s Bigface coffee business has gone severe, with the announcement that he has joined Shopify’s creator plan this month.

Final Thoughts

The NBA is one of the most popular sports globally, not only in the United States. Every basketball fan watches the NBA, whether it is through live broadcasts or highlights. So, NBA stars have the highest salary among other sports players. 

Now that the 2021-23 season has begun in a more standard version, we can anticipate this basketball league’s willingness to pay unbelievable NBA player salaries, bonuses, and endorsements to continue to rise. After reading this article, you can better understand who is the highest-paid NBA player. 

If you are still unsatisfied with this article, you can refer to Scott Fujita for more information.

Thank you for reading!