Top NBA players: Basketball's highest paid in 2019, ranked
NBA contracts are growing increasingly valuable with every new season.
Thanks in part to a massive, $24 billion television contract, the NBA will continue to be one of the most watched, and most popular, leagues in the world.
But how much do basketball stars make? We've listed the biggest earners, based on their cap hit in the 2019-2020 NBA season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP, re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks to a four-year, $100 million contract in 2017. The "Greek Freak" is easily one of the most talented players in the league.
40 (tie). Steven Adams: $25.8 million
The Oklahoma City Thunder big man is in the third season a four-year, $100 million extension that was signed in 2017.
39. LaMarcus Aldridge: $26 million
The seven-time All-Star landed a two-year, $50 million extension with the San Antonio Spurs.
38. Jrue Holiday: $27 million
Holiday secured five-year, $131.8 million pact to stay with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. The UCLA guard has the right to opt out of his contract following the 2021 season.
34 (tie). Hassan Whiteside: $27.1 million
Whiteside is in the final season of a four-year, $98.4 million deal. He was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers in the offseason.
34 (tie). Andre Drummond: $27.1 million
The two-time All-Star is in the fourth season of a five-year, $127.2 million contract that he signed with the Detroit Pistons in 2016.
34 (tie). Bradley Beal: $27.1 million
The Washington Wizards guard is in the fourth season of a five-year, $127.2 million contract that he signed in 2016. Beal is scheduled to hit the free-agent market in 2021.
34 (tie). Anthony Davis: $27.1 million
Anthony Davis is in the fourth season of a five-year, $127.2 million deal, with a player opt-out clause for the 2020 campaign.
The six-time All-Star was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason.
33. Otto Porter Jr.: $27.2 million
The former Georgetown star inked a four-year, $106.5 million deal with the Washington Wizards last offseason.
In February, Porter Jr. was shipped off to the Chicago Bulls. He's able to opt out of his pact following the 2020 season.
29 (tie). D'Angelo Russell: $27.3 million
The former Nets guard scored a four-year, $117.4 million deal with the Golden State Warriors in the offseason.
29 (tie). Devin Booker: $27.3 million
The 13th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Booker has emerged as one of the best scoring guards in the league. He was rewarded by the Suns with a five-year, $158.3 million pact.
29 (tie). Karl-Anthony Towns: $27.3 million
The Timberwolves' two-time All-Star is in the first season of a five-year, $158.3 million deal with Minnesota.
29 (tie). Kristaps Porzingis: $27.3 million
Traded to the Mavericks during the 2018 season, Kristaps Porzingis inked a five-year, $158.3 million deal with Dallas.
Porzingis is currently recovering from a torn ACL.
28. Nikola Jokić: $27.4 million
One of the best passers in the league, Jokić has been a revelation since he joined the Denver Nuggets as a second-round pick in 2015. "The Joker" is in the second season of a five-year, $147.7 million deal.
26 (tie). Joel Embiid: $27.5 million
Embiid is in the second season of a five-year, $147.7 million pact with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The two-time All-Star is set to hit free agency following the 2022 campaign.
26 (tie). Andrew Wiggins: $27.5 million
The No. 1 pick in 2014 scored a four-year, $147.7 million extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017. Wiggins won't be eligible for free agency until 2023.
25. C.J. McCollum: $27.6 million
A lottery pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, McCollum scored a four-year, $106.6 million deal in 2017. The Trail Blazers guard is scheduled to hit free agency following the 2021 season.
24. DeMar DeRozan: $27.7 million
DeRozan signed a five-year, $139 million deal with the Toronto Raptors in 2016. The former USC star was then traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 offseason as part of a package for Kawhi Leonard.
DeRozan can opt out of his contract following the 2020 season.
23. Nikola Vucevic: $28.4 million
The Orlando Magic re-signed Nikola Vucevic to a four-year, $100 million extension in the offseason. He's under contract through 2022.
22. Kevin Love: $28.9 million
Last offseason, Kevin Love landed a four-year, $120.4 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
21. Damian Lillard: $29.8 million
Lillard still has two seasons left on his five-year, $139.9 million extension with the Trail Blazers. But the Portland point guard recently secured a five-year, $196 million extension that starts in 2021.
20. Paul Millsap: $30.4 million
In the offseason, the Denver Nuggets elected to pick up Millsap's $30 million team option for the 2019 season.
19. Khris Middleton: $30.7 million
In free agency, Middleton landed a five-year, $178 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. He'll make more than Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2019.
18. Tobias Harris: $31 million
The Philadelphia 76ers re-signed Tobias Harris to a five-year, $180 million extension in the offseason.
17. Kyrie Irving: $31.7 million
One of the biggest acquisitions in free agency, Irving inked a four-year, $136.5 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
16. Mike Conley: $32.5 million
Conley is in the fourth season of a five-year, $152.6 million contract. The former Grizzlies point guard was traded to the Utah Jazz in the offseason.
15. Gordon Hayward: $32.7 million
Hayward enters 2019 in the third season of a four-year, $127.8 million deal with the Boston Celtics.
The former Jazz star — who is still trying to find his form after a brutal leg injury — has a player opt-out clause for 2020.
11 (tie). Kemba Walker: $32.74 million
With Kyrie Irving heading to Brooklyn, the Boston Celtics filled their hole at point guard by signing Kemba Walker to a four-year, $140.8 million pact.
11 (tie). Jimmy Butler: $32.74 million
Jimmy Butler is taking his talents to South Beach in 2019 and beyond. The ex-Sixer scored a four-year, $140.8 million pact with the Miami Heat in the offseason.
11 (tie). Klay Thompson: $32.74 million
Kevin Durant might have left the Warriors, but Klay Thompson didn't. The Warriors shooting savant signed a five-year, $189.9 million extension with Golden State in the offseason.
11 (tie). Kawhi Leonard: $32.74 million
After leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship in franchise history, Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
10. Paul George: $33 million
Dealt to the Thunder in 2018, George re-upped with Oklahoma City to a four-year, $136.9 million deal. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019.
The six-time All-Star is in the second year of his contract, and he has a player option for the 2021 season.
9. Blake Griffin: $34.5 million
Griffin landed a five-year, $171.2 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017. He was then traded to the Detroit Pistons.
The 2009 No. 1 pick is eligible to opt out of his current contract following the 2021 season.
8. Kyle Lowry: $35 million
The Toronto Raptors point guard is in the final season of a three-year, $100 million contract.
Lowry is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2019 season.
7. LeBron James: $37.4 million
The four-time MVP is currently in the second season of a four-year, $153.3 pact with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James can opt out of his deal with the Lakers following the 2021 season.
4 (tie). John Wall: $38.2 million
That's right: John Wall makes more than LeBron James in 2019. The Wizards point guard is in the first season of a four-year, $171.1 million pact with Washington.
4 (tie). Kevin Durant: $38.2 million
After spending three seasons with Golden State, Durant departed the Warriors for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency.
He secured a four-year, $164.3 million pact that includes a $43.9 million player option for the 2022 season.
4 (tie). James Harden: $38.2 million
Harden's four-year, $169.3 million "supermax" extension with the Houston Rockets starts this season.
2 (tie). Russell Westbrook: $38.5 million
The 2017 NBA MVP is in the second season of a five-year, $206.79 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Westbrook can opt out of his contract for the 2022 season that would pay him a whopping $47.1 million.
2 (tie). Chris Paul: $38.5 million
The nine-time All-Star point guard inked a massive four-year, $159.7 million contract with the Houston Rockets in 2018.
Paul's pact includes a $44.2 million player option for the 2021 season.
1. Stephen Curry: $40.2 million
The best shooter in the league also has the largest cap hit in the NBA. The two-time MVP is in the third season of a five-year, $201.2 million extension with the Golden State Warriors.