This season has been full of frenzy for basketball fans across the globe, given the amazing performances by players, it surely won’t be a cakewalk for NBA franchises to make it to the finals in the 2022-23 season. The challenge to overcome all odds and emerge as the World Champions is a long road ahead.
Nevertheless, the players shall battle it out to be the most dominating guy on the court. Not only the players but the franchises are also giving all in to retain their best players and poaching new ones. Players are being paid in bulky numbers for blood and sweat being drawn all season both on-court and off-court.
In this article, we shall look at the top ten highest-paid players in the NBA.
Who are the top 10 highest-paid players in the NBA?
The list of the top ten highest-paid NBA players is packed with some exciting names to look forward to.
10. Klay Thompson- $40,600,080
After backing an incredible comeback from his ACL injury and Achilles injury that he suffered during the 2019 finals, Klay Thompson has shown an incredible amount of courage and determination to show the world that he is not done yet. Despite being MIA for two complete seasons and simultaneously battling through his injuries, Klay has been one hundred percent committed to bagging a championship for his team, the Golden State Warriors in the 2021-22 season.
Thompson went complete MJ when he declared in a post-game interview that he doesn’t see a future outside the Warriors and more specifically without his coach Steve Kerr who has helped him get back to this incredible performance which reminded us of the bond shared by Jordan and Bulls coach Phil Jackson. So, the huge investment by the franchise shall be worth it.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo- $42,492,492
Giannis Antetokounmpo has proved his metal several times on the court for the Milwaukee Bucks consistently for the past seasons. From dropping in Lay-ups to shooting clutches, the small forward has never disappointed fans with his performances. He’s been keen on contributing to the team’s victory, despite not making it to the finals, Anteokounmpo has displayed how bad he wants to wear the ring, not only on offense but also on defense. He’s definitely worth the money being spent and is one of the most influential players in the future of basketball.
8. Damian Lillard- $42,492,492
The best player ever to dawn the Portland Blazers’ Uniform is a great commitment to the franchise. The Blazers owe a lot more than just money to the point guard who has given a decade of his basketball career not just to build a community and culture within the franchise but also spread it through fans across the globe. The post-injury phase hasn’t been kind to him given his performance in the last season. The six-time all-star has still got some fan-favorite performances to give in the upcoming seasons.
7. Kawhi Leonard- $42,492,492
Kawhi Leonard has been an icon for ballers across the globe for the last decade. He has always been a committed and goal-driven player. He has never failed to display hard work and put in every ounce of his blood and sweat despite injuries, in a game of basketball to lead his team toward victory in the season of 2019. Los Angeles Clippers is the third franchise to have a successful stint with the small forward. Both the Clippers and Leonard seem to be hungry for the championship trophy.
6. Paul George – $42,492,568
Paul George has also faced his share of challenges in the form of injuries. After having a great start to the season with consistent performances, he suffered elbow injuries and had to miss out on almost all the rest of the season with Los Angeles Clippers. But the star had an incredible comeback post recovery in the remaining games of the Los Angeles Clippers ensuring his commitment to the team’s success. Also, the fans shall expect to see George with the LA Clippers in the foreseeable future.
5. Kevin Durant- $42,969,845
Kevin Durant has been an inspiration for so many young ballers across the globe. The former Golden State Warrior star has made his mark in the world of basketball. Currently, with the Brooklyn Nets, KD has been stuck in a game of power play with the Head Coach and the General Manager of the franchise. However, both Durant and the Nets are working towards a future with a championship trophy, as the shooting guard shall have a strong roaster, to begin with in the upcoming season.
4. Bradley Beal- $43,279,250
The Washington Wizards are strong on offense to the efforts of Bradley Beal on the court. The shooting guard has been blessed with his skills, especially, at shooting for his team. Some might say that Bradley Beal is not much of a team player and he likes to finish it by himself, but he has certainly contributed to the franchise’s success in the last season. Beal has a strong future at the Washington Wizards keeping in light his extended contract which shall retain him for a major part of his remaining career at the Wizards.
3. Lebron James- $44,474,988
Lebron has been an emotion for basketball fans across the globe from all age groups. The power forward has played the role of one of the most dominating personalities in the history of the NBA. However, he is not at the best point of his career. His previous performances appear to be excellent. But everyone who followed the Lakers knows how miserable it was to watch them struggling to put up a show worth their while. James has an extended contract for the next two seasons with bulky numbers. It will be a testing period for both the franchise and the All-star.
2. Russel Westbrook – $47,063,478
The Los Angeles Lakers Guard has had its share of ups and downs recently, especially after he let down his fans with a sudden downfall in his overall game. Russel Westbrook, who has great records to his name like that of scoring the most number of triple-doubles four times during his stint with the Oklahoma City, is not in the best form post joining the lakers. However, the new head coach and Westbrook seem to have an understanding regarding his potential after the explosive guard chose to exercise his player option to continue for the next season with the Los Angeles Lakers retaining his big package.
1. Stephen Curry – $48,070,014
Things haven’t been the same since the championship of 2018 when Steph Curry, playing the role of point guard for the Golden State Warriors saw a huge hike in his salary which overtook Michael Jordan’s humongous contract with the Chicago Bulls for thirty-three million dollars. Since then Steph Curry has been unstoppable as he led the list of the highest-paid players in the NBA consistently without a break.
That’s the list of the top 10 highest-paid players in the NBA. Do let us know about your favorite player in the comment section. I hope you liked the article.
