The NBA players are considered some of the most marketable athletes in the sports world. Today, we will discuss the top 20 highest salary of NBA players.
NBA players are some of the world’s highest-paid athletes. After Michael Jordan came out as a global icon, the league became famous worldwide.
The 2022–23 NBA started on October 18, 2022, and will end on April 9, 2023. Many players have had a very lucrative salary deal this season.
In this article, we have focused solely on athletes’ salaries for the 2022-23 season to rank them. However, in addition to their salary, the NBA players have many endorsements deals with various top brands.
Now, without further ado, let’s go through the list.
Quick Overview
Following is a list of athletes and their salaries in descending order!
| Player’s Name | Salary |
| 20. Pascal Siakam | $35,448,672 |
| 19. Kyrie Irving | $36,934,550 |
| 18. Trae Young | $37,095,000 |
| 17. Luka Doncic | $37,095,000 |
| 16. Zach LaVine | $37,096,500 |
| 15. Tobias Harris | $37,633,050 |
| 14. Jimmy Butler | $37,653,300 |
| 13. Khris Middleton | $37,948,276 |
| 12. Anthony Davis | $37,980,720 |
| 11. Rudy Gobert | $38,172,414 |
| 10. Klay Thompson | $40,600,080 |
| 9. Paul George | $42,492,492 |
| 8. Kawhi Leonard | $42,492,492 |
| 7. Giannis Antetokounmpo | $42,492,492 |
| 6. Damian Lillard | $42,492,492 |
| 5. Bradley Beal | $43,279,250 |
| 4. Kevin Durant | $44,119,845 |
| 3. LeBron James | $44,474,988 |
| 2. Russell Westbrook | $47,063,478 |
| 1. Stephen Curry | $48,070,014 |
Highest Salary of NBA Players
We have prepared our list with the help of ESPN’s ranking.
20. Pascal Siakam
Number 20 is the power forward of the Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam, whose salary for the 2022-23 season is $35,448,672.
The 30 year-old Cameroonian professional player was drafted by the Raptors in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft.
Nicknamed “Spicy P,” he has been awarded the NBA champion, 2 times NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA Third Team, and NBA Most Improved Player.
19. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is a 32 year-old professional point guard for the Dallas Mavericks with a salary of $36,934,550.
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected him in the first round as the first overall during the 2011 NBA draft.
Since his NBA debut with the Cavaliers, he had also played with Boston Celtics before the Nets signed him in 2019 in free agency.
Irving’s notable wins include being the NBA champion, eight times NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA Second Team, and 50-4-90 club, among others.
18. Trae Young
In number 18 of the 20 players with the highest salary in the NBA, we have Trae Young. He is a 25 year-old point guard for the Atlanta Hawks with a salary of $37,095,000.
The Dallas Mavericks selected him in the first round as the 18th overall of the 2018 NBA draft. However, the Mavericks traded Young to the Hawks, with whom he made his NBA debut.
Nicknamed “Ice Trae,” he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, All-NBA Third Team, and two times NBA All-Star.
17. Luka Doncic
Next tied with Trae Young is the 25 year-old Slovenian point guard of the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic.
The Atlanta Hawks drafted him in the first round as the third overall of the 2018 NBA draft.
Before the draft, Doncic made his professional debut with the Spanish professional basketball team Real Madrid Baloncesto.
After the draft, the Hawks traded him to the Dallas Mavericks, and he made his NBA debut in 2018.
Doncic’s highlight wins include NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie First Team, three times All-NBA First Team, and four times NBA All-Star.
16. Zach LaVine
We have 29 years old Zach LaVine with a salary of $37,096,500 as our number 16. He plays as the shooting guard or small forward for the Chicago Bulls.
The Minnesota Timberwolves picked him 13th overall in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft. In 2017, the Timberwolves traded LaVine to the Bulls.
LaVine has been named NBA Slam Contest champion twice, NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and two times NBA All-Star since his debut in the league.
15. Tobias Harris
The 15th NBA player with the highest salary in the league is 31 year-old Tobias Harris, who is being paid $37,633,050 for the 2022-23 season.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ power forward was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets) during the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. The Bobcats immediately traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Since his debut, Harris has played for the Orland Magic, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Clippers.
14. Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is the 14th NBA player with the highest salary in the NBA, a whopping sum of $37,653,300. The 34 years old plays in the small forward position for the Miami Heat.
Nicknamed “Jimmy Buckets,” the Chicago Bulls drafted him in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft as the 30th overall.
Since his NBA debut, Butler has also signed with Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers before signing with the Heat.
Some of his highlight wins include being NBA steals Leader, five times NBA All-Defensive Second Team, four times All-NBA Third Team, and six times NBA All-Star.
13. Khris Middleton
Number 13 on our list of the 20 highest salaries of the NBA players is 32 year-old Khris Middleton, with a salary of $37,948,276.
He plays as the small forward or shooting guard of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Detroit Pistons selected Middleton in the second round as the 39th overall during the 2012 NBA draft. He debuted with the Pistons, who traded him to the Bucks in 2013.
Middleton was named NBA All-Star in 2019, 2020, and 2022 and NBA champion in 2021.
12. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is a 31 year-old professional player who plays the position of the power forward and center for the Los Angeles Lakers. His 2022-23 season salary is $37,980,720.
The New Orleans Hornets selected him as the first overall pick in the first round during the 2012 NBA draft. Moreover, the Hornets traded him to the Lakers in 2019.
Davis is the youngest player to score at least 59 points in an NBA game. Similarly, some of his league highlights wins include being NBA champion, NBA 75th Anniversary Team, eight times NBA All-Star, and NBA All-Star Game MVP, among others.
11. Rudy Gobert
The 11th player with the highest salary in NBA is Rudy Gobert, whose 2022-23 season salary is $38,172,414. The 31 year-old French professional player is the center for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Before his NBA debut, Gobert played professionally for the French League franchise Cholet Basket. The Denver Nuggets drafted him in the first round as the 27th overall pick of the 2013 NBA draft.
The Nuggets traded him to the Utah Jazz soon after the draft. Moreover, The Jazz traded Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 6, 2022.
Some of his wins include being the NBA rebounding Leader, NBA blocks leader, three times NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and many more.
10. Klay Thompson
We are down to the top 10 NBA players with the highest salary. On number 10, we have the shooting guard of the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson, earning $40,600,080 in the 2022-23 season.
The 34 year-old was selected by the Warriors in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft as 11th overall.
Some of Thompson’s highlights in the league are four times NBA champion, NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA All-Star five times, All-NBA Third Team twice, NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and NBA Three-Point Contest champion.
9. Paul George
Number 9, we have 33 year-old Paul George, who shares the same salary of $42,492,492 with three other players. Nicknamed “PG-13,” he is the small forward for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Indian Pacers drafted George in the first round as the 10th overall of the 2010 NBA draft. The Pacers traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, who also traded George to the Clippers in 2019.
Some of his notable wins are being a leader in NBA steals, NBA All-Defensive First Team twice, All-NBA First Team, and eight times NBA All-Star, among others.
8. Kawhi Leonard
Sharing the spot with Paul George and two other players is Kawhi Leonard. The 32 year-old small forward for the Los Angeles Clippers is in our number 8 with a salary of $42,492,492.
The Indiana Pacers selected Leonard in the first round of the 2011 draft as the 15th overall pick. Since then, he made his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs and played for the Toronto Raptors.
Leonard’s notable wins in the league are NBA All-Star Game, two-time NBA Finals MVP, five times NBA All-Star, two times NBA champion, NBA steals leader, and NBA 75th Anniversary Team, among others.
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the third player with a salary of $42,492,492 in the NBA. The 29 year-old Greek-Nigerian plays in the position of the power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Nicknamed “Greek Freak,” the Bucks selected him in the first round as the 15th overall of the 2013 NBA draft. Before his NBA draft, he played professionally for the Greecian basketball team, Filathlitikos.
Antetokounmpo’s impressive achievements include NBA Defensive Player of the Year, NBA All-Star Game MVP, seven times NBA All-Star, two times NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Finals MVP, NBA champion, etc.
6. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is the fourth player sharing the same salary of $42,492,492. He is a point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers and on number 6 of our list for the 20 highest salaries of NBA players.
The 33 year-old was selected by the Trailblazers as the sixth overall in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft.
Lillard is nicknamed “Dame Time” for making big shots in the clutch. Some of his highlight wins in the NBA include NBA 75th Anniversary Team, NBA Teammate of the Year, All-NBA Third Team, All-NBA First Team, seven times NBA All-Star, and others.
5. Bradley Beal
We have the shooting guard for the Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal, on number 5 of our list of the 20 NBA players with the highest salaries. His 2022/2023 salary is $43,279,250.
The Wizards drafted 30 year-old Beal back in the 2012 NBA draft’s first round as the third overall.
Beal’s highlight career wins include NBA All-Rookie First Team, All-NBA Third Team, and three times NBA All-Star.
4. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is the fourth player with the highest salary in the NBA at $44,119,845. The 35 year-old plays as the small forward and power forward for the Phoenix Suns.
Before that, he played for Brooklyn Nets from 2019 to 2023.
The Seattle SuperSonics selected Durant in the first round of the 2007 draft as the second overall. Since then, he has also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Thunder.
Durant signed with the Nets on June 30, 2019. Regarded as one of the greatest players and scorers in the league, he has gathered many accolades.
He was selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, 50-40-90 club, 13 times NBA All-Star, and is a two-time NBA champion.
3. LeBron James
Number 3 on our list of the 20 highest salaries of NBA players is LeBron James. The 39 year-old small forward/power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers is earning $44,474,988 this season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James in the first round as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. Since his debut, he has also played for the Miami Heat.
James’s career highlights and wins include being NBA champion four times, NBA Finals MVP four times, NBA Most Valuable Player four times, NBA scoring champion, NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and many more.
2. Russell Westbrook
The player with the second-highest salary of $47,063,478 in the NBA is Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook. The Seattle SuperSonics selected him as the fourth overall in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft.
The 25 year-old made his NBA debut with Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, he has played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Lakers.
He was among the players selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and has won the NBA assists leader thrice, NBA scoring champion twice, NBA All-Star nine times, and NBA MVP.
1. Stephen Curry
The highest salary of the NBA player is of the point guard of Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry.
He is considered one of the greatest players and shooters in the history of the NBA, and his salary is $48,070,014 this 2022-23 season.
The Warriors picked Curry as the seventh overall in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft. He inspires teams and fellow NBA players to take more three-point shots.
Curry was selected among the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Similarly, he is also included in the 50-40-90 club.
His other wins include being the NBA steals leader, NBA scoring champion twice, NBA Three-Point Contest champion twice, NBA champion four times, and many others.
Conclusion
So, this concludes our list of the 20 highest salaries of NBA players. We hope you found our article informative. Thank you for reading.
