NBA Salaries – Syndication Server

NBA salary comparison: LeBron James vs. other NBA legends

HoopsHype uses its new Salary Comparison tool to see how LeBron James compares in salary to likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and more.

Four-time NBA champion LeBron James became the highest-paid player in NBA history in 2020 when he passed the unforgettable Kobe Bryant. His reign will not survive for long after he hangs up his sneakers, however, not with NBA superstars cashing in near nine-figure salaries in the near future.

Either way, there’s no denying James has been very well financially compensated for his efforts in his career. To see how he stacks up with other NBA stars from today or back in the day, we used HoopsHype’s new Salary Comparison tool, which you can use to compare any two players’ salaries throughout NBA history.

Check out how James’ salary throughout his career compares to the likes of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Bryant and more!

New feature on HoopsHype: NBA salary comparison tool!

Ranking: The highest-paid NBA draft classes ever

We can argue all day about what the best draft class ever was, with some people saying 1984, others 1996, and some others 2003. But when it comes to money, the answer is pretty clear-cut: the 2011 draft class, which features max players like Kawhi …

We can argue all day about what the best draft class ever was, with some people saying 1984, others 1996, and some others 2003.

But when it comes to money, the answer is pretty clear-cut: the 2011 draft class, which features max players like Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler, ranks No. 1 in terms of career earnings in NBA history.

That is due to change in the future with salaries continuing to grow and more recent draft classes entering their prime. But it’s going to take a while since the 2011 players have already made $3.5 billion and will continue to cash in big bucks in the following years.

You can check the all-time ranking with the top earners from each class below.

The highest-paid NBA coaches and how they compare to players

Last week, Sportico released its list of the highest-paid coaches in American sports, with NBA coaches well represented and led by the Warriors’ Steve Kerr. However, their yearly earnings pale in comparison to NBA players, with coaches’ salaries …

Last week, Sportico released its list of the highest-paid coaches in American sports, with NBA coaches well represented and led by the Warriors’ Steve Kerr.

However, their yearly earnings pale in comparison to NBA players, with coaches’ salaries more closely matching those of rank-and-file players in the league.

Check for yourself below:

Minimum GOATs: The best players ever on the NBA’s base salary

At any given time, roughly a third of the league is on veteran or rookie minimum contracts. By and large, these are young and unproven or older and nearly washed players, balancing on a knife’s edge for their NBA careers. Most second-round picks, for example, end up signing minimum deals, and few stick in the league for too long. But every once in a while, a minimum player makes you sit up and take notice of their play.

Here are the Top 20 players to play on minimum deals. (For this exercise, we’re focusing on players on minimum contracts for full seasons).

These NBA players hit their peak salary long after their prime

If you have a long NBA career, most times you’ll see your salary peak in your late 20s or early 30s. But that’s not always the case. A bunch of NBA players since 1990 (as far back as our salary data goes) earned their highest yearly income much …

As of now, LeBron James ranks fourth among players who earned their maximum salary at the oldest age. But as with so many other HoopsHype rankings, he may end up at No. 1 eventually.

For now, here’s the list:

Ranking: The highest-paid players per game in NBA history

Former teammates Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid top the list of highest-paid players per game in NBA history, according to HoopsHype’s research (minimum 15 games played). Both fit a common trend among the leaders in our ranking: star players who signed …

Former teammates Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid top the list of highest-paid players per game in NBA history, according to HoopsHype’s research (minimum 15 games played). Both fit a common trend among the leaders in our ranking: star players who signed massive contracts but couldn’t fully meet expectations due to injuries.

This pattern runs throughout the list, with several big names cashing in despite limited availability. In total, 19 players have earned at least $300,000 per contest over their careers.

As always, you can check the full ranking below:

What NBA teams should do with their open roster spots

Late August is nearer to the start of next season’s training camps than it is from the start of the summer free agency period. NBA rosters, then, are almost all filled. Basketball is back, nearly. That said, there is always something to do. And this …

Late August is nearer to the start of next season’s training camps than it is from the start of the summer free agency period. NBA rosters, then, are almost all filled. Basketball is back, nearly.

That said, there is always something to do. And this year, there is a bit more flexibility than usual.

The most recent NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement expanded the size of NBA rosters, both before and during the season. By adding a third spot for two-way contracts, regular season rosters can now effectively run 18 players deep, with 15 on the regular playing roster supplemented by the three youngsters. And additionally, the maximum roster size during the offseason also increased by one, from 20 to 21.

Therefore, front offices looking to pack in every last player asset they can – as well as us fans who like to speculate on such things for fun – get one more toy to play with. Be it another young player with potential, a veteran to add a steady hand, or one of the few rotation-caliber players still available, there are still some moves to be made, even as September approaches.

There follows a look at which NBA teams still have the space to make a roster move, and who they may make them on.

Ranking: The biggest pay cuts in the NBA this season

HoopsHype ranks the biggest pay cuts taken by NBA players for the 2024-25 season, including Klay Thompson and Kyle Lowry.

There comes a time in every NBA star’s life when they have to take a pay cut from the star-level salary they were receiving.

An example from this upcoming season would be Klay Thompson, who is beginning a new chapter in his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks. He will do so after accepting a substantial pay cut of over $27 million. Other veteran players nearing the end of their careers, such as Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry, will also see significant decreases in their earnings next year.

Look below at the players who took the largest pay cuts next season, 2024-25.

Second Apron Blues: How the NBA’s CBA is reshaping team dynamics

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) sets out the terms and conditions, and respective rights and obligations of NBA teams, players, and the league. On average, a new CBA is negotiated every 5 to 7 years – with the latest taking effect in July 2023 and extending to the end of the 2029-30 season. The CBA defines everything from how income is distributed between the teams and players, to how player contracts are structured, pension benefits, fines and penalties, trade rules, and much more.