Highest-paid NBA players in 2018, ranked

How much do NBA players make? With the league quickly growing in popularity, it's becoming an ever more lucrative sport, as evidenced by the massive contracts. 

To prove our point, here's a ranking of the highest-paid players in the 2017-2018 NBA regular season, according to Spotrac. 

24 (tie). Chandler Parsons, $23.1 million

Parsons is in the second season of a four-year, $94.4 million deal he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2016. He's under contract through the 2019 season.

24 (tie). Harrison Barnes, $23.1 million

The former Warrior is in the second season of a four-year, $94.4 million deal he signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2016.

23. Dwight Howard, $23.5 million

After signing a three-year, $70.5 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2016, Howard was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets this offseason. Howard is signed through the 2018 season.

19 (tie). Andre Drummond, $23.8 million

The Pistons' big man has played well in the second season of a five-year, $127.2 million agreement.

19 (tie). Hassan Whiteside, $23.8 million

The Heat's star defender is in the second season of a four-year, $98.4 million deal he signed in 2016. Whiteside has a player option that, if exercised, would extend his contract through the 2019 season.

19 (tie). Bradley Beal, $23.8 million

Beal was rewarded with a five-year, $127.2 million pact in 2016. The Washington Wizards star is signed through the 2020 season.

19 (tie). Anthony Davis, $23.8 million

One of the most talented players in the NBA, Davis is in just his second season of a five-year, $127.2 million pact with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Unibrow is signed to this team-friendly deal through the 2020 season.

18. C.J. McCollum, $23.9 million

The former first-round pick scored a four-year, $106.6 million deal in the offseason. McCollum makes slightly less than his Blazers teammate, Damian Lillard. 

17. Chris Paul, $24.3 million

In the offseason, Paul decided to exercise his player option for the final season of a five-year, $107.3 million deal that was signed in 2013. The point guard was then traded from the Clippers to the Rockets.

16. Otto Porter, $24.8 million

Porter inked a four-year, $106.5 million pact in the offseason. The Wizards star has a player option in 2020.

15. Kevin Durant, $25 million

After joining the Warriors in 2016, Durant essentially signed a pair of one-year deals with Golden State. Durant's current deal is a two-year, $51.3 million pact with a player option in 2018.

14. Jrue Holiday, $25.7 million

The former UCLA guard was rewarded by the Pelicans with a five-year, $131.8 million pact that includes a player option in 2021.

13. Damian Lillard, $26.15 million

The Blazers point guard scored a five-year, $139.9 million extension in the 2016 offseason. The All Star is scheduled to be a free agent in 2021.

12. Carmelo Anthony, $26.2 million

Back in 2014, Anthony inked a five-year, $124 million deal with the New York Knicks. Now a member of the Thunder, Anthony can opt out of the final year of his deal this offseason. 

11. Al Horford, $27.73 million

Horford is in the second season of a four-year, $113.3 million deal that he signed in 2016 after departing the Hawks. The Celtics' big man can decline the final year of his contract in 2019.

10. DeMar DeRozan, $27.74 million

The Raptors All Star guard is in the second season of a five-year, $139 million deal that includes a player option in 2020.

9. James Harden, $28.3 million

Harden signed a four-year, $118 million deal in 2016 to stick with the Rockets. This past offseason, the MVP candidate re-upped with Houston for a four-year, $169.3 million partnership that starts in the 2019 season.

7 (tie). Mike Conley, $28.5 million

The Grizzlies point guard is in the second season of a five-year, $152.6 million pact. As recently as 2016, Conley was the highest-paid player in the league.

7 (tie). Russell Westbrook, $28.5 million

Westbrook is currently in the second year of a three-year, $85.6 million extension he signed in 2016. The Thunder guard scored an extension this summer worth $205 million over five years that goes into effect in the 2019 season.

6. Kyle Lowry, $28.7 million

The Raptors point guard went from making $12 million per year to signing a three-year, $100 million last summer. Lowry is signed with the Raptors through 2020. 

5. Blake Griffin, $29.5 million

The former Rookie of the Year signed a five-year, $171.2 million deal in the offseason with the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin was then dealt to the Detroit Pistons in January. He can opt out of the final year of his deal, worth $39 million, in 2021.

4. Gordon Hayward, $29.7 million

Hayward signed a four-year, $127.8 million deal this offseason to join the Boston Celtics. The former Jazz star suffered a broken ankle in his first game with Boston. He has a $34.1 million player option in 2020.

3. Paul Millsap, $31.3 million

The Nuggets forward is in the first year of a two-year, $61 million deal that includes a team option in 2019 for $30 million.

2. LeBron James, $33.3 million

James is in the second season of a three-year, $99.9 million pact. The Cavaliers star has the right to opt out of the final year of his contract in the offseason.

1. Stephen Curry, $34.7 million

The two-time MVP signed a massive five-year, $201.2 million extension with the Warriors in the offseason. Curry is signed through the 2022 season.