LeBron James was the top-earning player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 2023/24 season, with a salary of 47.6 million U.S. dollars and around 70 million U.S. dollars in off-court income. The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry was the second highest-paid NBA player, with a salary of 51.9 million U.S. dollars and 50 million U.S. dollars in income from endorsement deals.
NBA revenue streams
Players in the NBA have two main sources of revenue: salarier from the team, and endorsements from companies and brands. NBA players not only have deals with sports brands such as Nike and Adidas, but also with consumer products such as Coca-Cola, Panini, Kia Motors, and Red Bull, to name a few. Shoe deals are particularly profitable for NBA players. Michael Jordan, for example, still profits from endorsements, as his signature Air Jordan shoes have a large share of the basketball shoe market.
King James reigns supreme
Thanks to his wide range of endorsements, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James total earnings amounted to 117.6 million U.S. dollars during the 2023/24 season. Although Stephen Curry had the most on-court earnings that year, the Warriors point guard still has some way to go to match James as the NBA player with the highest cumulative career earnings. As a four-time MVP winner and the NBA's all-time highest scorer, James' earnings have certainly been backed up by his on-court performances.
Highest-paid National Basketball Association players in 2023-2024
(in million U.S. dollars)
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Forbes. (October 20, 2023). Highest-paid National Basketball Association players in 2023-2024 (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/202939/nba-players-with-the-highest-salaries/
Forbes. "Highest-paid National Basketball Association players in 2023-2024 (in million U.S. dollars)." Chart. October 20, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/202939/nba-players-with-the-highest-salaries/
Forbes. (2023). Highest-paid National Basketball Association players in 2023-2024 (in million U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/202939/nba-players-with-the-highest-salaries/
Forbes. "Highest-paid National Basketball Association Players in 2023-2024 (in Million U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Oct 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/202939/nba-players-with-the-highest-salaries/
Forbes, Highest-paid National Basketball Association players in 2023-2024 (in million U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/202939/nba-players-with-the-highest-salaries/ (last visited July 03, 2024)
Highest-paid National Basketball Association players in 2023-2024 (in million U.S. dollars) [Graph], Forbes, October 20, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/202939/nba-players-with-the-highest-salaries/