Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find sportsmen and women dominating Forbes’ lists and taking in millions of dollars annually. One of the most famous basketball competitions in the world is America’s NBA. Being the historical home of basketball, there’s no surprise at how far the NBA has come in shaping the sport globally.
No matter where you hail from, as long as you love basketball, the NBA is your go-to league for entertainment. This is the same for players worldwide, with many traveling several miles to feature in the world’s most-watched basketball tournament. As your one-stop site for everything basketball which contains sports Tanzania betting sites, Mightytips unravels yet another mystery. In this expose by our author Kate Richardson, we take a look at the highest-paid NBA players in 2021.
1. LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers forward retains the apex position on the highest earners list for the seventh time running with a $95 million check. Having previously featured for Miami Heat alongside Dwayne Wade, James is one of the sport’s most popular faces.
The basketball star earns $31 million annually on his Lakers contract and an additional $64 million from endorsements, sneaker deals, and a movie feature in Space Jam 2.
2. Steph Curry
Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry has been a constant feature on this list since the summer of 2014. Alongside LeBron James, he’s one of the easily recognizable faces of the NBA.
Famous for his trademark three-pointers, Curry earns $34 million annually, amassing an extra $40 million from his Nike sneaker deal and other endorsements. While his $74 million earnings his dwarfed by LeBron’s, both are usually compared in terms of their ability to influence a game.
3. Kevin Durant
Former Okhlamo City Thunder man Kevin Durant is one of the tallest players in the league. His move to the Brooklyn Nets began a decline for OKC and attracted outcry from the fans.
However, that hasn’t impacted his earnings. Durant makes a hefty $31 million on his Nets’ contract and rakes another $34 million from endorsements. This makes him third at $65 million in the past year. Standing at a lofty 6’10, Durant stands tall on the earnings front too.
4. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is another talent who made a name for himself at OKC with Kevin Durant. Russell now turns out for the Washington Wizards, earning $33 million yearly. The best basketball players in the league have sneaker deals, and Westbrook isn’t left out. His Nike deal, among other endorsements, brings him $25 million, pushing his annual earnings to $58 million.
5. James Harden
Unmistakably striking with his full beard, James Harden has certainly stepped up his game in recent years. The Brooklyn Nets forward has been very instrumental in the past few seasons, and that form is being rewarded with a place amongst the league’s top earners.
James Harden’s contract with the Nets is worth $33 per season, with another $17 million coming from endorsements. At $50 million, he sits fifth on Forbes’ list of highest-paid NBA players. It’s worth noting that Harden once held the NBA’s bumper contract record during his time at Houston Rockets. That record now belongs to the next name on our list.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nicknamed the “The Greek Freak,” Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis currently earns a $22 million salary. However, that’s soon to change this summer as the Bucks have put a super deal worth $228 million on the table.
The deal is set to be spread across five years, making it the NBA’s richest contract ever. At 26, The Greek Freak already has two rings and an MVP award to his name, cementing himself as one of the league’s brightest players. His earnings outside the NBA stand at $27 million, to total a yearly income of $49 million.
7. Klay Thompson
Winning multiple championships requires having the best players, and having the best players requires bumper pays. At the seventh position, Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson shows why his team has multiple rings with his $26 million salary.
The 31-year-old GSW Shooting Guard is regarded as one of the finest shooters in the league. His off-court earnings stand at $27 million, with a significant chunk coming off the soon-to-be-released “Space Jam: A New Legacy” movie, which also features LeBron James. Altogether, Klay Thompson’s $43 million income ranks him seventh amongst the NBA’s richest.
8. Kyrie Irving
The Brooklyn Nets make yet another feature with shooting guard Kyrie Irving. The 29-year-old American is on a $26 million contract and pulls another $17 million from off-the-court ventures.
Like several other basketball players on this list, Kyrie features in the upcoming “Space Jam: A New Legacy” movie, and his $43 million earnings place him in 8th place on the top earners’ ladder. Kyrie is no stranger to Hollywood, having featured in 2018’s Uncle Drew movie. The top eight earners in the NBA have not only distinguished themselves on the court but off it as well, with several of them actively participating in designing eponymous sneakers. Following Michael Jordan’s shoe deal’s huge success, several sports manufacturers like Nike now look to snap up the best performing players with sneaker deals.
The Brooklyn Nets have the highest number of players on the list, showcasing their willingness to splash the cash on quality talent. Other notable mentions on the NBA’s top earnings list include Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul at $40 million and the Portland Blazers’ Damian Lillard with $39 million. Although games have been played in a bubble away from fans’ prying eyes, NBA teams have been able to meet up with their financial commitments due to broadcasting deals with the likes of ESPN.
For regular fixture updates, basketball news, and other exciting facts about the game’s greatest players, visit the Mightytips website. Our blog pages are replete with information about several sports ranging from basketball to tennis and soccer, making it an ideal home for sports lovers.
