Forbes: Antetokounmpo 4th highest paid in 2023-24 season – LeBron tops again

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the fourth highest paid player in the NBA for the 2023-24 season, according to the ranking published today (20/10) by the American magazine Forbes, with the Greek superstar behind only LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. The Milwaukee Bucks star will earn $85.6 million.

“From 2020 to 2023, people think I’ve made a big leap on the basketball court, but I think I’ve made a 10-fold leap off the court,” the two-time league MVP told the New York Times in August.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are both set to make at least $100 million this season.

Thanks to an estimated $70 million off the court, “The King” James retains his crown for the tenth consecutive season, with an estimated $117.6 million. He and Curry are the only two active NBA players, and among only 15 athletes across all sports, to hit nine figures in one year.

Entering the second season of a four-year, $215 million contract he signed in 2021, the 35-year-old Curry is set to collect $51.9 million on the court in 2023-24, becoming the first player to crack the $50 million salary cap. Taking his off-court income into account, the four-time NBA champion will earn roughly $101.9 million (before taxes and manager fees), trailing only Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.

Rounding out the podium is Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns with $91.4 million.

Together, the NBA’s ten highest-paid players are expected to earn about $746 million, five million less than last year’s record $751 million.

Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks is slated to become the first basketball player to clear $60 million on the floor in 2026-27.

The 2023 total includes $291 million off the field. While that figure represents a 12% drop from 2022’s record $330 million, no other league has been able to come close.

The business endeavors of the ten highest-paid players in the NFL (Football/$69 million), MLB (Baseball $48 million) and NHL (Hockey /$13 million) are a tiny fraction of what the NBA’s top ten earn.

The list of the 10 highest paid NBA players for the 2023/24 season, according to Forbes:

1. LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers $117.6 million

2. Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 101.9

3. Kevin Durant Phoenix Suns 91.4

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks 85.6

5. Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks 63.6

6. Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors 61.2

7. James Harden Golden State Warriors 57.6

-. Joel Emdid Philadelphia Sixers 57.6

9. Jimmy Butler Miami Heat 55.2

10. Paul George Los Angeles Clippers 54.6

-. Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets 54.6

Source: skai.gr