LeBron James and Stephen Curry are set to dominate the NBA’s highest-paid players’ list for the 2023-24 season, with a combined earning of over $225 million, as reported by Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico. In the ever-expanding world of professional sports, the salaries and endorsements of these basketball superstars have reached unprecedented heights.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry Reign Supreme in Pay Rankings
At the top of the list is LeBron James, who is poised to earn a staggering $128 million. This includes an estimated $80 million from endorsements, in addition to his salary of $47.6 million. James’ ability to attract lucrative endorsement deals has been a key factor in his financial success.
Stephen Curry, known for his remarkable shooting skills, is not far behind, projected to earn around $101.9 million, with $50 million of that coming from endorsements. Curry’s endorsement portfolio is diverse, featuring partnerships with renowned brands such as Under Armour, Chase, Nissan, Sony, JP Morgan, and Rakuten.
Joining James and Curry among the highest earners in the league are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, who are set to make $90.6 million, $88.4 million, and $64.2 million, respectively. Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, and James Harden follow closely with earnings of $62.6 million, $56.6 million, and $55.6 million. Nikola Jokić and Paul George round out the top ten, making $54.6 million and $54.1 million, respectively. In total, the top 15 NBA players are projected to earn a combined $1 billion during the 2023-24 season, according to Badenhausen.
Endorsement deals play a significant role in the income of many players. Curry, Antetokounmpo, and Durant will each generate approximately half of their earnings through endorsement contracts. Curry’s endorsements include his signature brand with Under Armour, while Antetokounmpo has partnerships with Nike, WhatsApp, JBL, Google, and T-Mobile. Durant, on the other hand, holds the distinction of being the third NBA athlete to have a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike.
However, endorsements are not the sole source of additional income for these top NBA players. James, Curry, and Durant have also diversified their portfolios by investing in various ventures, ranging from media platforms to liquor brands and even team ownership in other leagues.
The remarkable salaries of these basketball stars far exceed those of other major North American sports leagues. Even without endorsements, the highest NBA salaries dwarf those of other professional athletes. Players like Lillard, Anthony Davis, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, and Jokić each earn an average of over $55 million per year in salary, surpassing the salaries of non-NBA athletes.
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Looking ahead, the trend of rising salaries shows no signs of slowing down. With the NBA projected to increase the salary cap by up to 10 percent next year, players can anticipate even larger paydays in the future. The financial landscape of professional basketball continues to evolve, with players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry leading the way in redefining what it means to be the highest-paid athletes in the NBA.