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NBA’s Top Paid Players

Plans are already on for the next season of the world’s most lucrative basketball league, the NBA, and as expected, another money-spinning campaign is coming. Top players are expected to rake in millions of dollars in base salaries from the respective franchises as the competition for the lucrative championship kicks in.

Golden State Warriors saw off Boston Celtics in the 2022 final, winning the championship and pocketing US$27.5m total prize money. The most outstanding player in their championship quest was without doubt Stephen Curry.

Steph Curry also walked away with the MVP award and as preparations for next season commence, the Warriors will be among the teams tipped on SportyTrader to make a big impact all the way to the championship.

So, who are the best paid players in this league?

Stephen Curry: This comes as a no brainer. The Golden State Warriors guard, aged 34, will be the highest paid player in the 2022/23 season, taking home a base salary of $48,070,014. With his performances in the 2021/22 season, it will be hard to argue against the fact that he has joined the list as one of the top talents to have graced the NBA.

Russell Westbrook: Los Angeles Lakers are among the best paying sides in the NBA, and one of their own, Russell Westbrook, will be the second best paid player in the competition, if things stay constant. The 34-year old’s contract has him on a salary of $47,063,478.

LeBron James: A legend of the game, LeBron James is another Los Angeles Lakers player to rank among the top three best paid players. He is also the oldest in this list, aged 38. LeBron James will take home $44,474,988 for the coming season.

Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets’ forward Kevin Durant will be the fourth highest earner in the competition. The 34-year old will take home a total $44,119,845 for the year, making him the top earner in his team.

Bradley Beal: Washington Wizards haven’t done much in the way of challenging for the NBA Championship, but Bradley Beal’s five-year contract will be seen as a means towards going for that. He has signed a new contract with the team, which will see the 29-year old guard pocket $43,279,250 as his base salary for 2022/23 season.

Paul George: The LA Clippers man hasn’t had much going his way in recent years, and especially since joining the team in 2019. Most recently, he has made headlines for his marriage rather than performance on the court. Still, he is among the high earners in the league and going into the coming season, the 32-year old is expected to pocket a base salary of $42,492,568, which makes him the sixth best paid.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: A former MVP, Giannis remains a top player for Milwaukee Bucks. At 28 years old, he is the youngest among the top 15 best earners going into the coming season. His abilities are never in question and his pay reflects just that. For 2022/23, he is going to earn $42,492,492.