The NBA is clearly the gateway to riches, at least for the elite players. The league is known for handing out lucrative contracts – some of the biggest in sports – to tie down the best players. Yet, it is also full of savvy athletes who know how to market themselves as brands.
As such, there are many NBA athletes with ultra-high net worths, combining their NBA earnings, lucrative sponsorship deals and business investments to accumulate vast wealth. But who are the top earners currently balling in the league? Below, we list the top ten by their estimated net worth.
Note that the list below is an estimate based on a variety of sources. Some sources use other methods to estimate net worth and may differ from this list:
LeBron James ($800 million), Los Angeles Lakers.
The days of King James being the automatic favorite in the NBA MVP betting each season might be over as he winds down his career, but he is still the face of modern basketball, and he still has plenty to offer the game.
Kevin Durant ($400 million), Houston Rockets.
Like James, KD is coming to the twilight of his career, but he still commands a lot of respect and his earning potential is still sky high. Durant has several investments outside of his NBA earnings, including a stake in the MLS club, Philadelphia Union.
Russell Westbrook ($300 million), Sacramento Kings.
No longer an automatic starter, Westbrook is also winding down his career (he’s the same age as Durant, 37), and he’s also supplemented his huge NBA contracts with several business interests, particularly in fashion.
Stephen Curry ($240 million), Golden State Warriors.
The 12-time All-Star is just adored by the Warriors fans, and he is perhaps the franchise’s greatest ever player. Curry is a smart operator on and off the court: After a famously lucrative deal with Under Armor, he now has sole control of the “Curry Brand”.
Kawhi Leonard ($160 million), LA Clippers.
Leonard is something of an enigma, letting his basketball do the talking. He rarely gives interviews or appears on socials, though he does dabble in music.
Klay Thompson ($140 million), Dallas Mavericks.
A former teammate of Curry’s, with whom he had huge success, Thompson is currently in the middle of a three-year contract with the Mavs. It will probably be the last longer-term deal of his career.
Damian Lillard ($140 million), Portland Trail Blazers.
A nine-time All-Star, Lillard has had some big contracts, but he also has deals with many companies, including Adidas, Powerade, Foot Locker, and others. He also releases hip-hop tracks.
Al Horford — ($130 million), Golden State Warriors.
Horford’s current contract with the Warriors is worth $12 million over one year, so it’s not a massive one by any standards. He’ll be 40 in June, so this is perhaps the end of the line. Still, he has had a brilliant career, especially during his two tenures with the Boston Celtics.
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Mike Conley Jr. ($120 million), Minnesota Timberwolves.
Conley Jr. is an interesting addition to this list. Nearly everyone else is a multiple All-Star, whereas his career has been consistently good but never spectacular. His addition to the list comes mostly through the contract he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2016 – the biggest in NBA history at the time.
Nikola Jokić ($120 million), Denver Nuggets.
Signing off with the player who many believe is the best in the world. Jokić is at the peak of his powers, has already stamped his reputation as a Nuggets legend, and he retains the earning potential to move up this list before his career winds down.
