NBA's highest-paid superstars in 2015
1
/
17
-
Kobe Bryant: $25 million
Plenty of money was thrown around this offseason in the NBA, with max contracts galore. But which NBA superstars are the biggest earners on the court? The players might surprise you.
Kobe Bryant enters the final season of his two-year, $48.5 million contract as the NBA's highest-paid player. Despite his hefty contract, the Black Mamba has been plagued by injuries the last three seasons.
All contract figures are from Spotrac.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Stephen Dunn, Getty Images -
Joe Johnson: $24.89 million
Joe Johnson might be the most surprising name on this list, and he comes in as the second-highest paid player in 2015. Johnson originally signed a six-year, $123.6 million deal with the Hawks in 2010 before being shipped off to the Nets two years later.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images -
LeBron James: $22.97 million
LeBron James signed the richest per-year contract of the offseason. King James signed a two-year, $46.97 million pact with a player option in 2016. James deliberately agreed to a short-term contract to capitalize on the NBA's new TV deal, which will significantly raise the salary cap in the near future.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images -
Carmelo Anthony: $22.88 million
Selected two picks after LeBron James in the 2003 NBA Draft, Carmelo Anthony makes slightly less than the Cavs star. Melo signed a five-year, $124.1 million extension with the Knicks in 2014. He's under contract until the 2018 season, when he'll be 34.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images -
Dwight Howard: $22.36 million
Following his departure from the Lakers in 2013, Dwight Howard signed a four-year, $87.6 million contract with the Rockets. He could've made more money overall with the Lakers, but $22.36 million in 2015 is a nice consolation prize.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Scott Halleran, Getty Images -
Chris Bosh: $22.2 million
Chris Bosh almost made the jump to the Rockets in 2014, but the Heat big man decided to re-up with Miami on a five-year, $108.7 million extension.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Andy Lyons, Getty Images -
Chris Paul: $21.47 million
After a trade that sent Chris Paul to the Clippers in 2011, CP3 signed a five-year, $107.3 million extension with Los Angeles two years later. Paul is the first of three players on the Clippers who makes $18 million-plus per season.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Stephen Dunn, Getty Images -
Kevin Durant: $20.16 million
Kevin Durant enters his contract year with every team patiently waiting for the elite scorer to hit the free-agent market. The Thunder will pay Durant $20.16 million in 2015 with the hopes of re-signing him to a long-term deal next July.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Sam Greenwood, Getty Images -
Derrick Rose: $20.1 million
When the Bulls signed Derrick Rose to a five-year, $94.3 million pact in 2012, it looked like an absolute steal. But season-ending knee injuries have slowed down his MVP career. Rose bounced back nicely last season, and he'll make slightly more than $20 million in 2015.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Alex Goodlett, Getty Images -
Dwayne Wade: $20 million
Dwayne Wade will be the 10th NBA superstar to earn $20 million next season after re-signing with the Heat on a one-year deal. Wade will get a chance to enter the free-agent market next year, while the Heat will open up cap space to join the Durant sweepstakes.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images -
Jimmy Butler: $19.86 million
After reportedly turning down a four-year, $44 million extension in 2014, Jimmy Butler bet on himself to outperform the offer. He did just that, and the Bulls rewarded the dynamic guard with a five-year, $92.34 million pact with a player option in the final year.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Christian Petersen, Getty Images -
DeAndre Jordan: $19.69 million
No free-agent story was crazier than the DeAndre Jordan, Clippers and Mavericks love triangle this offseason. Jordan originally agreed to a four-year deal with Dallas before reneging and signing with the Clips on a four-year, $87.6 million extension with a player option in 2019.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Stephen Dunn, Getty Images -
Brook Lopez: $19.69 million
Brook Lopez's oft-injured foot didn't scare the Nets away from re-signing the big man to a three-year, $63.5 million extension.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Rob Carr, Getty Images -
Kevin Love: $19.69 million
Kevin Love's first season with the Cavaliers didn't go according to plan, and rumors were rampant that he would depart for another city. Love decided to re-up with Cleveland on a five-year, $113.2 max contract.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images -
LaMarcus Aldridge: $19.69 million
LaMarcus Aldridge, the top free agent on the market this offseason, took his talents to San Antonio to play for the Spurs. Aldridge signed a four-year, $84.1 million pact in hopes of winning a championship next season.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Christian Petersen, Getty Images -
Marc Gasol: $19.69 million
Marc Gasol is considered one of the best centers in the NBA, so it was imperative for Memphis to re-sign him this offseason. Gasol and the Grizzlies came to an agreement on a five-year, $113.2 million extension with a player option in the final season.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Andy Lyons, Getty Images -
Blake Griffin: $18.9 million
Griffin, now the third-highest paid player on the Clippers, signed a five-year, $95.5 million extension with Los Angeles in 2013. He has a player option in 2018 that he'll almost assuredly decline.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Credit: Harry How, Getty Images
More Slideshows
Around the Web
Promoted by Taboola