There’s no secret behind the growth of the NBA in terms of money has increased in recent times. More revenue from games and merchandise sales means an increased salary cap for players. Now that the 2021-22 season has tipped off in a more familiar fashion, we’re expecting to see the ridiculous salaries, bonuses, and endorsements that the NBA is willing to fork out continue to swell. Based on their income for the 2021-22 season, we summoned the list of The ten Highest Paid NBA Players.
The Highest paid NBA players are decided via commutative weather generated from:
- Salary
- Endorsements
Ten Highest Paid NBA Players 2022
Content Summary
- Ten Highest Paid NBA Players 2022
- 10). Jimmy Butler – $47 million
- 9). Paul George – $47.8 million
- 8). Klay Thompson – $54 million
- 7). Damian Lillard – $56.3 million
- 6). James Harden – $62.3 million
- 5). Russell Westbrook – $74.2 million
- 4). Giannis Antekounmpo – 80.3 million
- 3). Kevin Durant – $87.9 million
- 2). Steph Curry – $92.8 million
- 1). LeBron James – $111.2 million
- Ten Highest Paid NBA Players 2022
- FAQs
Through their excellent skills, the god-given gifts, and hard work, These players are earning impressively well. From King James to Dame Dolla, the richest NBA players are knocking on the three-comma doo. Here is a list of the 10 highest-paid NBA players of 2022.
10). Jimmy Butler – $47 million
- Team: Miami Heat
- Total Earnings: USD$47 million
- Salary: USD$36 million
- Endorsements: USD$11 million
With a healthy salary and some big moves off-court, Jimmy Buckets rounds out the list of the 10 highest-earning NBA players for 2012-22. Signing with Chinese shoe brand Li-Ning last year, the Miami Heat star is also the biggest partner in an endorsement portfolio that partners with Tag Heuer watch and Jaybird earbuds. Most interestingly, Butler has gone legit with his Bigface coffee business, announcing this month that he has joined Shopify’s creator program.
9). Paul George – $47.8 million
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Total Earnings: USD$47.8 million
Salary: USD$39.3 million
Endorsements: USD$8.5 million
Without his co-star Kawhi Leonard for the foreseeable future, Paul George is going to earn his money this season for The Clippers. However, motivation should be high with the 31-year-old kicking off a four-year, USD$190 million contract extension. His partners include Nike, Gatorade, and AT&T, and recently became an investor in-home gym company Tonal.
8). Klay Thompson – $54 million
- Team: Golden State Warriors
- Total Earnings: USD$54 million
- Salary: USD$38 million
- Endorsements: USD$16 million
He might be going through one of the most unlucky injuries runs in sports history, but Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson is still making some serious coin. This year, the All-Star joined Alex Morgan, Travis Pastrana, and Paul Rodriguez to launch a CBD brand, Just Live. Further to that, the injured star has endorsement deals with Tissot, Mercedes-Benz, Kaiser Permanente, and a monster deal with Chinese shoe partner Anta.
7). Damian Lillard – $56.3 million
- Team: Portland Trailblazers
- Total Earnings: USD$56.3 million
- Salary: USD$39.3 million
- Endorsements: USD$17 million
Portland Trailblazers star and perennial All-NBA guard Damian Lillard just jumped three spots in this year’s highest-earning NBA players list. He earned much of his USD$39 million through endorsement deals and a new partnership with Gatorade’s Bolt24 product line. Perhaps more impressively, Lillard also launched an annual internship program last year for a half-dozen disadvantaged students at high schools in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
6). James Harden – $62.3 million
- Team: Brooklyn Nets
- Total Earnings: USD$62.2 million
- Salary: USD$44.3 million
- Endorsements: USD$18 million
The Beard has locked up one of the biggest contracts in NBA history and it shows. James Harden’s huge USD$44.3 million salary has kept the now-Brooklyn Net in fine form, however, in December, Harden announced he had joined fragrance brand Pura as an investor and creative director. Harden also enjoys endorsements from Stance, Art of Sport, and BodyArmor.
5). Russell Westbrook – $74.2 million
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
- Total Earnings: USD$74.2 million
- Salary: USD$44.2 million
- Endorsements: USD$30 million
It’s been an interesting few years for Russell Westbrook. Several teams and a run of streaky form may have lowered the former MVP’s stock, but it hasn’t impacted his earnings. Over the last year, Westbrook secured an impressive USD$74.2 million, with his Nike partnership and as well as 10 Southern Californian auto dealerships accounting for most of that.
4). Giannis Antekounmpo – 80.3 million
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks
- Total Earnings: USD$80.3 million
- Salary: USD$39.3 million
- Endorsements: USD$41 million
no surprise that reigning champion Giannis Antetokounmpo makes an appearance on the highest paid NBA players 2021-22 list. Back in December, the Greek Freak signed the richest deal in NBA history, securing a five-year contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks worth a whopping USD$228 million.
At just 26 years of age, Antetokounmpo is definitely one of the youngest players on this list, so you can expect to see his stock rise in the next few years, particularly if Disney has anything to do with it. The entertainment giant has reportedly locked up the rights to a movie about his life, following his journey from Greece to NBA stardom. According to Forbes, the film will be released in 2022.
3). Kevin Durant – $87.9 million
- Team: Brooklyn Nets
- Total Earnings: USD$87.9 million
- Salary: USD$40.9 million
- Endorsements: USD$47 million
Kevin Durant’s contract is almost as big as he is, but the former MVP really scored in December. Massive tech company Uber bought food-delivery service Postmates for USD$2.65 billion, a start-up that Durant had invested in back in 2016. According to Forbes, Durant turned his initial USD$1 million into USD$15 million thanks to the buyout.
investing in more than 80 companies through his firm Thirty-Five Ventures, Durant is set to score big on his stakes in investing apps Robinhood and Acorns, online banking Mercury, fitness-tracker WHOOP, and fantasy sports startup Sleeper.
2). Steph Curry – $92.8 million
- Team: Golden State Warriors
- Total Earnings: USD$92.8 million
- Salary: USD$45.8 million
- Endorsements: USD$47 million
The two-time MVP and Golden State Warriors star raked in a cool USD$92.8 million over the period, including a whopping USD$47 million off the court. The biggest development for Curry has been the announcement of his new Under Armour-backed Curry brand.
Featuring a mixture of footwear, apparel, and accessories across multiple sports, the new venture is worth around USD$20 million dollars a year, but will pick up should the brand take off. Curry’s other ventures include his own production company, Unanimous Media, which was responsible for the competition series Holey Moley. Also just last month, he announced a new endorsement deal with cryptocurrency platform FTX.
1). LeBron James – $111.2 million
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
- Total Earnings: USD$111.2 million
- Salary: USD$41.2 million
- Endorsements: USD$70 million
Unsurprisingly, the King still reigns supreme. Well on his way to becoming the second billionaire to emerge from the league, LeBron James was able to generate an impressive USD$70 off the court, with his Nike deal alone paying $32 million annually. That number, combined with his USD$41.2 million salary was enough to put him in the top spot in Forbes’ 2021-22 highest-earning NBA players list.
Most notably, his media and entertainment business, the SpringHill Company, announced the sale of a minority stake at a valuation of USD$725 million. Additionally, James lent his likeness to Epic Games’ Fortnite in July and just this week, joined gym company Tonal as an investor and brand ambassador.
Ten Highest Paid NBA Players 2022
| Rank | Player | Salary | Endorsements | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeBron James | $41.2m | $70m | $111.2m |
| 2 | Steph Curry | $45.8m | $47m | $92.8m |
| 3 | Kevin Durant | $40.9m | $47m | $87.9m |
| 4 | Giannis Antekounmpo | $39.3m | $41m | $80.3m |
| 5 | Russell Westbrook | $44.2m | $30m | $74.2m |
| 6 | James Harden | $44.3m | $18m | $62.3m |
| 7 | Damian Lillard | $39.3m | $17m | $56.3m |
| 8 | Klay Thompson | $38m | $16m | $54m |
| 9 | Paul George | $39.3m | $8.5m | $47.8m |
| 10 | Jimmy Butler | $36m | $11m | $47m |
FAQs
Steph Curry enjoys the highest salary cap, $45.8m.
Milwaukee Bucks star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has the richest contract in the NBA. the power forward signed a five-year, USD$228 million contract with the Eastern Conference team.
LeBron James made an impressive USD$70 million from endorsements in 2021
Steph Curry made an impressive $47 million from endorsements in 2021