The Highest Paid NBA Players Of All Time

It's no secret that there is huge money in professional sports. However, this inflow of cash doesn't get split evenly among all players in the NBA. A few factors will determine a player's salary, with the most important being their performance on the court. Of course, their likeability and how brandable the star is can also make a difference. 

In this article, we will be taking a look at the highest-paid NBA players of all time! All numbers are correct at the time of publication. Keep in mind that this is based on salaries earned in the NBA, not the total revenue of each superstar. This means that ventures such as brand deals, endorsements, appearances, and money owned by operating a business are not included. 

• Position: Small Forward 
• Earnings: $387,384,119

At the top of this list sits Lebron James. If you've seen him play, it may come as no surprise to see the enormous amount of money he's earned in the NBA. He has played for four teams since starting his professional career in 2003. At just 18 years old, he was the first pick in this draft, getting signed to the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron is also one of the top NBA scorers of all time.

• Position: Power Forward 
• Earnings: $334,304,240  

Kevin Garnett has earned an impressive $334 million after 21 seasons in the NBA. Across his professional career, which began in 1995, he has received both the most valuable player award and best defensive player award. He was also inducted into the NBA hall of fame in 2020. Kevin has only played for three teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Boston Celtics.  

• Position: Point Guard 
• Earnings: $330,709,419 

Known as one of the best point guards of all time, Chris Paul has some serious achievements to his name. He was first drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, being the fourth player to be picked during the first round. In 2020-2021, he made his first appearance in the NBA finals, heavily contributing to this achievement with yet another stellar season. 

• Position: Small Forward 
• Earnings: $323,312,307 

There is no doubt that Kobe Bryant, who sadly passed away in January of 2020, has made an everlasting impact on the NBA. His playing career spanned 20 years, all of which he spent with the LA Lakers. Kobe was inducted into the NBA hall of fame in 2021, as the class of 2020. Incredibly, he played in 18 NBA All-Star games and is a five-time NBA champion.

• Position: Small Forward 
• Earnings: $306,172,746 

KD takes our fifth and final spot on this list of the highest-paid NBA players of all time. He was drafted second in 2007 by the Seattle Supersonics, where he received a salary of $4,171,200. Kevin has 2 NBA championships to his name, won in succession in 2017 and 2018. During both of these finals, he also received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. Finally, Kevin Durant has three Olympic gold medals, which he won with the American national team.