The ten highest-paid NBA players have earned a staggering $751 million this season – with one star alone raking in over $120 million

The NBA is reaching new heights this season when it comes to player earnings.

The ten highest-earning players this season alone will earn a combined record $751 million before taxes and agent fees, according to Forbes.

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To put this in perspective, their report states that this represents a 122% increase from just ten years ago.

So, according to Forbes, which players make up the league’s elite earners?

LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers, $124.5 million

As the third highest earning player in terms of his NBA salary, James tops the list thanks to his numerous business ventures.

James, 37, is expected to earn $44.5 million this season in the final year of his contract.

But James will make almost double his NBA salary ($80 million) thanks to his other businesses, including Canyon Bicycles, Neutral Foods and his partnership with Nike, among many other investments.

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Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors, $95.1 million

Next is 34-year-old Curry, who is the NBA’s highest-earning player, at least on court, with a salary of $48.1 million for 2022-23.

Curry is starting the first of his new four-year deal worth $215.3 million and also has various business ventures such as his content company Unanimous Media, his recently released children’s book I Have a Superpower, and his partnership with Under Armour.

Curry is expected to make an estimated $47 million off court this season.

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Kevin Durant – Brooklyn Nets, $88 million

Durant, 34, is entering the first year of a four-year contract and is the league’s fourth-highest earner on the court thanks to his $43 million salary.

Durant’s estimated $45 million in extra-judicial earnings can be attributed to his media company, Boardroom, as well as his venture capital firm, 35V.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks, $86.5 million

At 27, Antetokounmpo is the youngest player to make the top ten.

Antetokounmpo is entering the second year of his five-year contract, worth just over $228 million, and can reportedly expect around $44 million in off-court earnings as the Greek deals with watchmaker Breitling, gambling site Novibet and equity investments has partnered with other companies.

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Russell Westbrook – Los Angeles Lakers, $82.1 million

Westbrook, 33, the league’s second-highest earner at $47.1 million, is entering the final year of his current contract.

Something of an automotive magnate, Westbrook reportedly owns ten dealerships in Southern California.

His $35 off-court earnings are also credited to his media company, RW Digital, and his partnership with marketing firm Causal IQ.

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Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors, $60.6 million

Thompson, 32, makes this list largely thanks to his extrajudicial ventures, as his salary of $40.6 million is the 11th-highest in the NBA.

With sponsorships including Buffalo Wild Wings and Mountain Dew, as well as co-founder of CBD brand Just Live, Thompson is expected to make another $20 million off court.

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Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers, $60.5 million

Lillard’s salary of $42.5 million is the sixth-highest in the NBA, his six-year contract (including the recent renewal) is two years up, which should net him about $237.2 million in total.

The 32-year-old is expected to make around $18 million off his investment portfolio, including his footwear company Move and endorsements with Bose and Kicks Crew, among others.

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James Harden – Philadelphia 76ers, $53 million

Harden, 33, who is only the 31st-highest earner in the league thanks to his new two-year, $68.6 million deal (including an option for next season) is reportedly set to earn another $20 million off court.

Harden has reportedly added Tequila Gran Diamante to its beverage portfolio, which includes a recently released wine collection among other illiquid investments.

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Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers, $51 million

Two years after his four-year, $176.2 million contract expired, George will be the ninth-highest earner this season.

Sponsorship deals with American Express and Crypto.com, among others, contribute to the 32-year-old’s expected $8.5 million in extra-court earnings.

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Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat, $49.7 million

With a salary of $37.7 million, Butler is the fifteenth-highest earner in the NBA as he completes the penultimate of his four-year, $140.8 million contract.

The 33-year-old butler will reportedly rake in $12m thanks to his Big Face coffee brand, as well as sponsorships from Aquahydrate, Beats By Dre and Bonobos and others, according to Marca.

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