If you ever needed proof that basketball pays more than your average lemonade stand, just look at LeBron James. In a world where NBA contracts are skyrocketing, King James has just leveled up once again, officially smashing through the $500 million career salary barrier. Yes, you read that right—a cool half-billion just from playing basketball. Let’s roll up our sleeves and break down how LeBron did it, who’s catching up, and what these jaw-dropping numbers mean for the future of the NBA’s elite.
The Era of Record-Breaking Contracts
Free agency in 2024 has already gone down in history for rewriting the salary record books. Jayson Tatum set the scene with a jaw-dropping extension with the Celtics, signing a five-year deal worth $314 million, a number never before seen in the NBA. But if Tatum’s contract opened the door, LeBron James came in and knocked it off its hinges by ensuring he’d become the first player to cross over a half-billion dollars in career earnings from playing basketball alone.
LeBron has just inked a new agreement with the Lakers for $104 million over two years. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the total might be adjusted slightly downward, but make no mistake: this deal propels him past the fabled $500 million mark in career salary. He was already the first—and only—player to reach $400 million (clocking in at $479 million), and now he’s putting that milestone even further into his rearview mirror with his new windfall.
Who’s Next in Line to the Money Throne?
Behind LeBron, a fierce chase is underway among NBA royalty. Kevin Durant and Chris Paul are set to crash the $400 million barrier too in the coming season. For Phoenix Suns’ forward Durant, his own $106 million in salary due by 2026 means that crossing half a billion might soon be in his sights as well.
Meanwhile, Chris Paul, after signing a $11 million deal for just one year with the Spurs at age 39, will just barely tiptoe across the $400 million line—by a mere million. Whether CP3 will climb higher on this money mountain remains to be seen; let’s just say time isn’t exactly on his side.
The Current Top 10: Salaries at a Glance
- LeBron James: $479,466,457
- Kevin Durant: $396,705,024
- Chris Paul: $389,909,419
- Stephen Curry: $354,721,977
- Russell Westbrook: $340,265,800
- James Harden: $338,570,135
- Kevin Garnett: $334,304,240
- Kobe Bryant: $323,312,307
- Paul George: $305,332,086
- Shaquille O’Neal: $286,344,668
Honorable mention to the trio Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal, who round out the tail end of the rankings—for now. But with the NBA thriving and TV rights money reaching for the moon, the next few years promise some serious shake-ups.
Paul George, currently ninth, will make a giant leap up the list after signing with the Sixers for $212 million over four seasons. This means he, too, will be joining the exclusive $500 million club in time. Stephen Curry, now fourth, has more than $115 million still guaranteed for his next two seasons. To enter the half-billion-dollar club, though, Curry will need to ink another deal.
The Future: New Millionaires on the Horizon
NBA salaries are forecasted to keep ballooning, especially as the league cashes in big on TV deals. In the next few seasons, several stars are ready to rewrite the pecking order:
- Anthony Davis: projected $507 million by 2028
- Devin Booker: projected $391 million by 2028
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: projected $427 million by 2028 (if he activates his $79 million player option)
- Nikola Jokic: projected $364 million by 2028 (with a $63 million player option)
- Jaylen Brown: projected $423 million by 2029
- Karl-Anthony Towns: projected $344 million by 2028 (with a $61 million player option)
- Kawhi Leonard: projected $372 million by 2027
This golden age of contracts is far from over. In fact, expect more additions as new deals are inked by the NBA’s brightest stars in the months and years ahead.
Conclusion: LeBron James may have raised the bar to dizzying new heights, but in today’s NBA, the sky’s the limit. If you’re thinking about a career move, maybe dust off those old sneakers—just in case. For now, though, all eyes are on the contract table, where records are made to be shattered, and fortunes to be claimed…one signature at a time.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
