Basketball has gained the title of the professional game with the introduction of the National Basketball Association (NBA). With the rising popularity of the league, the salaries of NBA players are also skyrocketing. There is a list of the highest-paid NBA players based on their excellent on-court performance, skills, and brand appeals. This total salary amount not only comes from their team’s contracts but also from various sources like merchandise sales, social media following, and brand endorsements. Here are the top NBA players with the highest salaries in 2023. Read on!
Table of Content
1. Stephen Curry
One of the best NBA players, Stephen Curry, is the highest-paid NBA player among all in 2023. He is regarded as a history maker in the NBA due to his five-year contract in 2017 worth $201 million. Again he signed two rich contracts consecutively, which extended his contract period upto 2021.
Being the best NBA player with the team, Golden State Warriors, his earnings are almost $40 million. Other than this source, Stephen Curry has a lifetime shoe endorsement deal with Under Armour that earns him $215 million. Lastly, he has become the president of his own brand to mark his legacy.
Position: Point Guard
Team/Club Name: Golden State Warriors
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, United States
Age: 35 years
Rank: 2nd
Total Salary: $51,915,615
2. Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is a remarkably high-level point center with unbelievable skills. He is regarded as an exceptional player for his runner-up performance in MVP. Nikola Jokic is a one-of-a-kind, best NBA Player. His extensive pay of $ 46 million makes him stand among the top NBA players.
Position: Center
Team/Club Name: Denver Nuggets
Birthplace: Sombor, Serbia
Age: 28 years
Rank: 1st
Total Salary: $46,900,000
3. Joel Embiid
The court dominator, Joel Embiid, is a unique player with the highest payment. He has achieved the NBA All star 2023 and will be playing. Joel Embiid is a talent that has to be paid higher for his dedication and extraordinary skills. With his NBA top scores, he became one of the highest paid NBA players.
Position: Center
Team/Club Name: Philadelphia 76ers
Birthplace: Yaoundé, Cameroon
Age: 29 years
Rank: 4th
Total Salary: $46,900,000
4. LeBron James
The King James of the Los Angeles Lakers (LAL) has been a significant player in the NBA for the past decades. In September 2022, he signed a new 2-year contract with the LAL. This contract paid him almost $97.1 million, which made him stand fourth on the highest-paid player list.
LeBron James has secured four NBA championships, having completed ten finals. He has also been an NBA All star a total of 19 times. Other than on-court salary, LeBron James earned $1 million in 2022.
Position: Power Forward
Team/Club Name: Los Angeles Lakers
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, United States
Age: 38 years
Rank: 12th
Total Salary: $46,900,000
5. Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal is known to be an elite shooter. Being a player under 65 for four years, he has earned tons of money. Through the Washington Wizards, Bradley is earning a high amount. He has an average of 23.2 PPG on the shooting of 36-5% from deep.
Position: Shooting Guard
Team/Club Name: Washington Wizards
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Age: 29 years
Rank: 43rd
Total Salary: $46,741,590
6.Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant, the player of the Brooklyn Nets, is recognized for his high pay in the basketball world. He is known for his leads in NBA All star votes. Kevin Durant was an NBA champion in the years 2017 and 2018, which gained him a lot of admirers. He gets a great amount of his salary from endorsement deals like Nike and Foot Locker.
Position: Small Forward
Team/Club Name: Phoenix Suns
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Age: 34 years
Rank: 5th
Total Salary: $46,407,433
7. Paul George
Paul George could be on the list of the highest paid NBA players, due to his outstanding skills and leadership on the court. He is a player with NBA leading scores through both his offense and defense. Even after being down in health Paul George could make it on the top-paid list for his dedication and performance on the court.
Position: Shooting Guard
Team/Club Name: Los Angeles Clippers
Birthplace: Palmdale, California, United States
Age: 33 years
Rank: 22nd
Total Salary: $45,640,165
8.Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is an extraordinary player holding NBA leading scores. His exceptional talents made him stand on the list of highest paid NBA players. He is a remarkable point guard, earning over $45 million in a single season. Damian Lillard’s leadership skills have made him earn a lot from his team and off-court.
Position: Point Guard
Team/Club Name: Portland Trail Blazers
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Age: 32 years
Rank: 14th
Total Salary: $45,640,084
9. Kawhi Leonard
The unmatchable skills of Kawhi Leonard make him one of the highest paid NBA players. His rebound, defense, and score have got him a huge fan base. Kawhi Leonard is a five-time NBA All star and two-time NBA Champion. He is a valuable member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He earns a good amount from several endorsement deals, like Beatsby Dre, Nike, and New Balance.
Position: Small Forward
Team/Club Name: Los Angeles Clippers
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Age: 31 years
Rank: 9th
Total Salary: $45,640,084
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek freak of the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has the largest contracts of all time. He has signed a high-paying contract worth $228 million with the Milwaukee Bucks for five years. Due to his athleticism, defending, scoring, and playmaking, he has got a great fan following.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s skills made him one of the highest paid NBA players in the world. His total salary includes the heavy amount from endorsement deals with Nike, T-mobile, and Hulu.
Position: Power Forward
Team/Club Name: Milwaukee Bucks
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Age: 28 years
Rank: 3rd
Total Salary: $45,640,084
Conclusion
National Basketball Association became a league that gave recognition to the players and the sport itself. Through NBA and brand deals and endorsements, the players are able to earn a handsome amount of money. The above list gave detailed information about the highest paid NBA players of 2023. Stephan Curry stands at the top, followed by Nikola at the second place and Joel Embiid at the third.