Top three highest-paid players in the NBA in 2023

Three of the biggest stars feature in this elite list.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a league full of global basketball stars who've displayed their incredible athleticism, shot-making and ball-handling skills. Each of the following names is known for the aforementioned qualities which have brought them immense fortune and wealth. Here's taking a look at the top three highest-paid players in the NBA.

3. Kevin Durant

The Phoenix Suns went on to acquire Superstar Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade in February where T.J. Warren to Phoenix for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and a 2028 draft swap. The former Brooklyn Nets star is amongst the most recognised athletes in the NBA and has the third-highest salary package in the NBA worth $44.1.

Kevin Durant had signed a four-year, $198 million contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets, his former team, after joining the Golden State Warriors in free agency as a two-time NBA Champion.

On 1st May 2023, Kevin Durant and Nike announced an agreement to a lifetime contract, making him just the third athlete in Nike history to receive such a prestigious deal, after Michael Jordan and Lebron James.

2. LeBron James

Also popularly known as King James, LeBron has been the face of the NBA for the past decade or so. His longevity alongside his elite basketball IQ has found many admirers over the years. He penned a new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in September 2022, agreeing to a 2-year, $97.1 million contract extension that included a player option for 2024-25. This has made him the second-highest-paid player in the NBA currently.

James has earned $387 million over his first 19 years in the NBA, according to Spotrac. He is set to make $44.5 million in 2022-23 if the four-time NBA Champion opts for the player option, which will take his career on-court earnings to $529 million(highest ever in NBA history).

In addition to his salary, Lebron has the distinction of being the only NBA player to have career earnings including off-court to $1 billion! which he earned at the end of 2022.

1. Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is currently the highest-paid player in the NBA in 2023. His current salary earnings with the Golden State Warriors is approx $48 million. He was the first athlete in NBA history to sign a five-year $201 million contract in July 2017, with an annual average salary of approx. $40 million. The lifelong Golden State Warriors player got an extension to his already rich contract and became the only player in NBA history to sign two consecutive $200 million contracts when he ended up extending his contract in 2021.

His maximum extension contract was worth $215 million for four years, earning approx. $48 million in the 2022-23 NBA season and will incrementally increase to $60 million in the final year of his deal in 2025-26.

Similar to his contract, his shoe endorsement deal with Under Armour is also worth $215 million, which includes an equity stake in the company. Last week on 30th March, He signed the contract extension with the brand which likely makes it a lifetime deal, as well as his announcement as the President of his own Curry brand, cementing his legacy with the brand.