1. LeBron James — $387.3 million
Age: 37
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Awards: 4x MVP, 4x Finals MVP, 18x All-Star, 18x All-NBA
Career stats: 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists
Current contract: 2 years, $85 million
One thing to know: James signed a two-year, $97 million extension with the Lakers this week, which will help push his career earnings over the half billion mark. And with the way James is still playing, it’s not out of the question he signs another big deal after that.
2. Chris Paul — $330.7 million
Age: 37
Team: Phoenix Suns
Awards: 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA
Career stats: 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists
Current contract: 4 years, $120 million
One thing to know: Paul, who took less than the maximum last summer to stay with Phoenix, hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, as he led the NBA in assists last year — his 17th in the league.
3. Kevin Durant — $306.1 million
Age: 33
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Awards: 1x MVP, 12x All-Star, 10x All-NBA
Career stats: 27.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Current contract: 4 years, $194 million
One thing to know: Durant’s $194 million extension, which he signed last summer, kicks in this year, but he has requested a trade from the Nets.
4. Russell Westbrook — $288.5 million
Age: 33
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Awards: 1x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA
Career stats: 22.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists
Current contract: 5 years, $206 million
One thing to know: Westbrook is in the final year of his contract, set to make $44 million this season. His play has declined, however, making his contract an albatross and all but impossible to trade.
5. James Harden — $268.6 million
Age: 32
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Awards: 1x MVP, 10x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, Sixth Man of the Year
Career stats: 24.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists
Current contract: 2 years, $68 million
One thing to know: Harden took a significant discount with the 76ers this off-season, perhaps the result of a down year in 2021-22. But it also helped the Sixers built a formidable squad that should compete for a championship next spring.
6. Carmelo Anthony — $262.5 million
Age: 38
Team: Free agent
Awards: 10x All-Star, 8x All-NBA
Career stats: 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Current contract: n/a
One thing to know: Anthony is just 307 points away from passing Shaquille O’Neal for 10th all time in points.
7. Blake Griffin — $255.7 million
Age: 33
Team: Free agent
Awards: 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA
Career stats: 19.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Current contract: n/a
One thing to know: Griffin is only three years removed from an All-NBA season. He has certainly lost a step since, and he fell out of favor with the Nets last year, but he might still have more to offer a contender in a limited role.
8. Stephen Curry — $254.7 million
Age: 34
Team: Golden State Warriors
Awards: 2X MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA
Career stats: 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists
Current contract: 4 years, $215 million
One thing to know: Curry was once underpaid, becoming MVP on a four-year, $44 million contract. Last summer, he became the first player to ever sign a second $200 million deal.
9. Dwight Howard — $245.1 million
Age: 36
Team: Free agent
Awards: 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 5x All-Defensive
Career stats: 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Current contract: n/a
One thing to know: Howard ranks ninth in all-time earnings, but he has never signed a deal worth over $100 million, a sign of his longevity in the league.
10. Al Horford — $239.1 million
Age: 36
Team: Boston Celtics
Awards: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x All-Defensive
Career stats: 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists
Current contract: 4 years, $109 million
One thing to know: According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Horford has only $14.5 million of his $26.5 million salary guaranteed, but it becomes fully guaranteed if he wins the Finals. The Celtics are currently the betting favorites to win the championship.