The National Basketball Association(NBA) was founded in 1949 by merging the National Basketball League(NBC) and BBA (Basketball Association). It’s a professional basketball league in North America, with 30 teams associated with it, 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.
These players get record-breaking salaries and sponsorships and are among the richest athletes in the world. In this article, we will look at the richest players, which teams they are associated with, and how much they earn. Let’s find out:
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The highest-paid NBA athletes in the 2024- 2025 season
In the latest season, NBA players enjoy huge fortunes from their contracts and sponsorships. Let’s look at the richest player in the season and their salary
1. Stephen Curry
Base Salary – $51.9 million
Stephen Curry was born in the USA, he led the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. He is the NBA Champion and NBA Most Valuable Player Award winner, He is one of the greatest pure shooters in NBA history. Stephen Curry, Known as the “Baby-Faced Assassin,” completely changed the NBA with his three-pointer-shooting. You could say he was responsible for so many results and NBA lines which reached much above what was predicted that game day evening. He also managed to increase his net worth by grabbing big contracts and sponsorships with brands like Under Armor, Infinity, Carmax, and Rakuten.
2. Kevin Durant
Base Salary – $47.6 million
Kevin Durant, born in Washington, D.C., USA, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Plays for the Phonexis Suns in the NBA, and has won two NBA championships and two times NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player awards. He is a prolific scorer and a very versatile player which made him a top player in the NBA. Durant has endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Google, and Gatorade which actively contributes to his overall wealth.
3. Nikola Jokic
Base Salary – $47.6 million
Nikola Jokic, born in Serbia, plays as a center for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. He won the 2023 NBA Championships and was three times the NBA’s most valuable player. His strength, ability to score, and control make him one of the most valuable players for his team. Jokic is not very active commercially compared to other NBA players.
4. Joel Embiid
Base Salary- $46.9 million
Joel Embiid was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, he plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He is the reigning 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player. He is best known for his ball handling, scoring, and defensive play. His vibrant personality has helped to grab him major endorsement agreements with brands like Amazon, Under Armour, and Mountain Dew.
5. LeBron James
Base Salary – $46.9 million
LeBron James born in the United States, also known as “King James” was four times NBA Champion, four times NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, and four times Season Most Valuable Player. LeBron James’ name in basketball needs no introduction, he is globally recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in the history of basketball. He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Lebron has endorsement contracts with major brands like Nike, Pepsi, and Pizza Blaze which also contribute to his earnings.
6. Bradley Beal
Base Salary – $46.7 million
Bradley, born in the United States, plays for Phonexis Suns in the NBA. He is famous for making shots from any position on the court. In 2021 he signed a $251 million five-year contract with the Washington Wizards but was traded to Phoenix Sun in 2023 in a blockbuster deal. He is among the highest-paid athletes in the NBA and is also associated with major brands like Nike, Tissot, and Mountain Dew which adds to his wealth.
7. Paul George
Base Salary – $45.6 million
Paul George born in the United States plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA, He is a nine-time NBA all-star. He is well known for his ability to score from all three levels, smooth shooting, and elite defense. This star player is also associated with major brands like AT&T, New Era, Bass Pro Shops, Footlocker, Nike, and Gatorade which contributes to his wealth.
Wrapping Up
The NBA is a widely recognized game and has a huge fan base not only in the United States but all across the world. Across social media platforms, the NBA’s official page accumulates over 150 million, highlighting its massive reach and popularity. With a limited number of teams competing against each other in a highly competitive league allows players to demand higher salaries. NBA players are highly marketable and are associated with major global brands which further boosts their wealth. NBA’s star athletes not only shine on the court but also flourish in the business world.