By the time he signs a new contract, LeBron James will be the highest-paid NBA player in history. His contract will take him past $400 million in total salary. The question is: Who else will he beat? Here’s a look at the current highest-paid NBA players, including Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But who will be number one by 2022?
LeBron James
LeBron James was the highest-paid NBA player in 2022. He earned over $111 million in endorsements. More than 60% of his earnings came from endorsements with Nike, Coca-Cola and Beats By Dre. Steph Curry, second in 2022, earned 47 millions U.S. Dollars in endorsements.
As far as the NBA is concerned, LeBron James continues to make headlines with his astronomical salaries. The two-time MVP and two-time NBA champion earned more than $39 million this season, but that is still far from LeBron’s record. Giannis Antetokounmpo is another star who has been averaging nearly $39 million a year and is the highest-paid player in the league. The Portland Trail Blazers’ point-guard is expected to sign a five-year supermax extension and earn even more.
If the global pandemic continues, LeBron James’ earnings are set to drop. In the past two seasons, James has made more than USD 90 million. His salary alone is $68 million. His earnings are derived from endorsements and memorabilia. LeBron James signed endorsement agreements with Rimowa Luggage, Walmart and others in 2019. Despite the recent pandemic he is able handle the NBA bubble well. Anthony Davis is his running mate, but it’s not easy money. However, it’s hard to deny that he has eyed Hollywood in the future.
According to Forbes, LeBron James is on the verge of becoming the second highest-paid NBA player in history. The Nike deal, which pays him $32 million annually, is an additional source of income. Besides his lucrative basketball career, LeBron has invested in Fortnite video game and Tonal fitness business. He sold a minority stake in Tonal gyms for $725 million.
Kevin Durant
LeBron James, a player in the NBA, was the highest-paid in 2022. He made 111.2 million U.S. dollars in 2022, but over half of his income came from endorsement deals. He raked in over 70 million in off-court income, including a contract with Beats By Dre and Blaze Pizza. Steph Curry was the reigning Defensive Player Of The Year and earned 45.8 Million U.S. Dollars during the 2022-23 seasons.
Kevin Durant, a Maryland native plays small forward for Brooklyn Nets. He attended the University of Texas where he was a Longhorns player. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and he will represent the United States at the Olympics in Tokyo 2020. Averaging 42 points per game, he’s earned more than $10 million per season.
Although he’s not a billionaire, he is a top NBA basketball player and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Forbes estimated Kevin Durant’s net worth at $200 million, and he’ll earn close to $41 million in 2022 from his contract with the Brooklyn Nets and his off-court investments. He has endured several injuries during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, and has been forced to play through Kyrie Irving’s Kyrie Irving vaccine reluctance. He is not entitled to the same off-court investment, but it will likely bring in similar numbers.
Derrick Rose, another point guard, made history in 2022. After winning two Olympic gold medals with his country, the point guard is now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and earning $44,211,146 annually. Harden has also won numerous NBA All-Star honors, and is the most-paid player in the NBA. But who will be the highest-paid NBA player in 2022?
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The reigning NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpe recently signed the richest contract in NBA history with the Milwaukee Bucks, worth $228 million a year. Only 26 years old, Antetokounmpo has been regarded as a top player for years and recently signed a movie deal with Disney to make a biopic about him. The film is expected release in 2022.
In April, Antetokounmpo announced his five-year, $228 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, making him the highest-paid NBA player for the first time in history. Antetokounmpo’s new contract with the Bucks has a player option that he can exercise after the fourth year. This gives him the chance to opt out of the deal at his discretion.
Antetokounmpo will see his salary rise by three million per season under the new contract. That means Giannis will make $51.9 million by the 2025-2026 season. George’s salary will be increased by the Los Angeles Clippers every season. The Los Angeles Clippers intend to make Paul George the highest-paid NBA player by 2024-2025.
The salary cap for NBA players was set at $112.4 million this season. While that salary cap is too low for Giannis to reach the top spot, he is expected to earn at least $111.2 million this season. The contract includes endorsements from Nike, Adidas, Tonal, and Kaiser Permanente. Among the other players in the list are the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Klay Thompson is just outside the top 10 with $37,980.720. The two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, is a great deal for a young player.
Despite the lack of interest in the NBA’s new season, salaries have skyrocketed over the past three decades. Last year, the average salary for a NBA player was USD 9.5 million. This year, Forbes estimates that 35 players will make at least USD 28 million. This puts them in front of the top 10 NFL and seven MLB players. With the 2021-22 NBA season just tipped off, everyone is asking about the highest-paid NBA player salaries, bonuses, and endorsements.
Damian Lillard
Despite his relatively low salary, Damian Lillard will still earn a cool $40.2 million this season, according to his trainer. The star guard signed a five-year, $139.9 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2013, which will make him the highest-paid player in the NBA by 2022. Lillard has already received accolades and money from endorsement deals and his participation in the NBA All-Rookie First Team. The NBA also rewarded him with the Rookie of the Year Award in 2014.
The Blazers also signed Lillard to a four-year, $176.3 million contract earlier this year. His contract will increase by approximately 3.5 million dollars per year until it reaches $48.7million in 2024-2025. In the first year of his rookie contract, Lillard earned $3,065,040. In his second season, he earned $3,203,000.920 and in his third, he earned $3,340,000.920. In year four, he will earn $4,236,286.
The Portland Trail Blazers have two difficult decisions to make this offseason: extending Damian Lillard’s contract or moving on and signing a new player. The top-level GM candidates do not want to extend Lillard’s contract, preferring to move him sooner rather than later. Lillard’s performance and salary are not in doubt. As a result, Lillard is unlikely to be the highest-paid player in the league next season.
The same amount will be paid to the top three players. Russell Westbrook, a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, is the oldest player in the top three with a salary of $44,211,146. In 2018, he signed a five year, $189.9million contract with the Lakers and is expected to earn $44,211,000.146 this season.
Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz’s center, is among the top-paid NBA players. He is a great player because of his athleticism and height. He enjoys boxing, and has posted videos of his training sessions. While his athleticism is impressive, his lack of speed and footwork make him vulnerable to superstar guards. This results in easy layup opportunities for offense.
The Jazz signed a new contract for the French center, who is currently one of the most valuable players in the NBA. His new five-year, $205 million contract is the third-largest center contract in NBA history. The deal will keep Gobert in Utah for another five years. This is an incredible contract and the Jazz will be thrilled to have him in Salt Lake City.
Rudy Gobert has been a force on both ends of court this season. His career highs of seventy-five% shooting percentage and 99 defensive rating is unmatched. While many people questioned his honesty about touching players in the locker room, he has continued to impress. Gobert apologized on Instagram and pledged to donate $500 000 for charity in lieu.
In addition to being a star in the NBA, Rudy Gobert has made himself a member of the French national team. He represented his country at several FIBA World Cups and won the bronze medal with France in EuroBasket 2015. Gobert was awarded a silver medal by France in the 2020 Olympic Games. Since 2013, he has been the highest-paid NBA player.
