It all started in 1891 when a Canadian named James Naismith went on a quest to create a team sport that wouldn’t have the players suffer many injuries like in football, thus he invented the basketball game. The sport developed in several ways in the many years that followed and saw the birth of The American National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1946. Today, the sport is a big part of humanity and has made many people wealthy and famous. Check out the top 10 rich athletes in NBA for the year 2019.
Rich Athletes In NBA
10. Paul George ($38.6 Million)
Upon signing a new contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the forward became one of the top earners in the NBA with $30.6 million received annually by way of salaries and bonuses alone. He has one of the highest ratings in steals, points, and rebounds in the league and shows no signs of slowing down. Paul George takes home $8 million in endorsements earned from his partnership with brands like 2K Sports, Nike, Foot Locker, New Era, Gatorade, and Bass Pro Shops.
9. Blake Griffin ($39.1 Million)
Griffin has spent more than 10 years in the NBA, consistently building up his earning power by putting in brilliant performances in one season after another. He has regularly made the cut for All-Star games and has several titles under his belt. He is currently the highest-paid athlete with Detroit Pistons, earning $32.1 million as his yearly salary. His sponsorship includes deals with Levi’s and Flagstar Bank.
8. Damian Lillard ($41 Million)
The Portland Trail Blazers’ point guard is already halfway through a lucrative five-year deal with the club worth $140 million. He was the sixth overall pick during the NBA Draft of 2012. Lillard has a partnership deal with Adidas and a host of other companies that adds $13 million to his annual earnings. The basketball player is also a rapper who has released several music projects under the moniker Dame D.O.L.L.A. Definitely, he is one of the rich athletes in NBA.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($43.2 Million)
This Greek player is quickly becoming a legend in the NBA. He picked up the Player of the Month Award in the Eastern Conference for November and December. He is one of the most beloved players in the NBA, and his consistently high rankings have contributed to the massive checks he pulled in by way of endorsements. Giannis earns $24.2 million every year from the Washington Wizards, which only slightly higher than the amount he makes from endorsements alone.
6. Chris Paul ($43.7 Million)
Last summer, the Houston Rockets renewed Chris’ contract for another four years to the tune of $160 million. At the moment, his annual salary of $35.7 million inclusive of bonuses makes the athlete a top earner in the NBA. This figure will rise to $44 million as from 2021. Chris has 10 brands on his sponsorship portfolio including Sharpie and Spalding, Nike, and State Farm. He is also the presiding president of the National Basketball Players Association.
5. James Harden ($47.4 Million)
Harden is an exceptionally gifted player who has spent his career scoring record high points. The Houston Rockets star is one of the highest-paid in the league. He has earned numerous titles including MVP, seven All-Star selections, and five All-NBA first-team picks. In 2017, he signed the biggest contract in the history of the league worth $228 million over four years. He also has massive endorsement deals with brands like Adidas, Art of Sports, Beats, and BodyArmor.
4. Russell Westbrook ($53.7 Million)
Coming in at number four on the list of top earners in the NBA in 2019 is a triple-double machine, Russell Westbrook. He is one of the most talented players ever to grace the NBA. He has made it to eight All-Star games. His magnificent abilities coupled with his explosive lifestyle off the court have earned him lucrative multi-year contracts with major brands such as the footwear giants, Jordan.
3. Kevin Durant ($65 Million)
Depending on who you ask, Kevin Durant is arguably the best player in the league. He has won two NBA championships and MVP awards. Although his recent injuries might impede his chances of getting a max contract as soon as his free agency begins, it would probably only be to a slight extent. When it comes to endorsements, he often brings in more money than he earns in salary annually. He gets paid $30 million for the magic he works for the Golden State Warriors.
2. Stephen Curry (79.5 Million)
Not too long, Curry picked up endorsement deals with Rakuten and Palm, adding to his already impressive sponsorship portfolio. He has won three NBA championships and earns $37.5 million every year as his salary from the Golden State Warriors. The larger portion of his earnings comes from endorsements and his income is set to increase even further as his career progresses. You can’t count the rich athletes in NBA and leave him out.
See Also: Rich Athletes In EPL- 10 Top Earners In 2019
1. LeBron James ($88.7 Million)
LeBron is the highest-earning athlete in the NBA. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers last year on a contract that allows him to take home $35.7 million in salary and bonuses with a player option of $41 million in the fourth year. His endorsement contracts are worth upwards of $53 million and include brands like Beats by Dre, 2K Sports, Nike, Blaze Pizza, and Coca-cola. He is easily one of the most influential athletes in the world and his earnings are proof of that.
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