'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Basketball players are some of the highest paid athletes in the world. The NBA is home to several talented players, but only a few are fortunate enough to catch the eyes of brands that are willing to pay them huge amounts for their ability.Here are 10 of the richest basketball players who are still playing.
#10 Chris Paul
Total Earnings- $24.2 million
Salary/Winnings- $18.7 million
Endorsments-$5.5 million
The move to the Clippers has set Paul’s career on the right track. He does have a shoe deal with Nike through Air Jordan, but has contracts with Avon, Foot Locker, Steiner Sports.
#9 Dwight Howard
Total Earnings- $25.5 million
Salary/Winnings- $20.5 million
Endorsments-$5 million
He could have had $118 million being paid to him every season if he stayed with the Los Angeles Lakers, yet he decided against that and signed with the Houston Rockets. He has deals with Gatorade and Adidas.
#8 Amar\'e Stoudemire
Total Earnings- $26.7 million
Salary/Winnings- $21.7 million
Endorsments-$5 million
He signed a massive 5 year $20 million deal with the Knicks, other than his renewed Nike contract to five more years. Plagued by injuries every season since his first with the New York Knicks, his scoring average has consistently been on the decline since that first season.
#7 Carmelo Anthony
Total Earnings- $29.4 million
Salary/Winnings- $21.4 million
Endorsments-$8 million
Courtesy of his talents, he has managed to land a max contract with the New York Knicks in addition to already present deals with Foot Locker, Inc, Mission, Nike (Jordan), IWC and Steiner Sports.
#6 Dwyane Wade
Total Earnings- $29.9 million
Salary/Winnings- $18.9 million
Endorsments-$11 million
Dwyane Wade is the first player on this list to not have a deal with a major shoe company like Nike or Adidas. Instead he is inked with Li-Ning which entitles him to an equity stake in the company. He might be taking paycuts from the franchise in order for them to accomodate more players, however he does not lack in money with sponsorship deals with Gatorade, Hublot, Mission, Pepperidge Farm and Dove men.
#5 Kevin Durant
Total Earnings- $31.9 million
Salary/Winnings- $17.9 million
Endorsments-$14 million
The four time NBA scoring champion and reigning NBA league MVP is the first player on the list who earns more through salary rather than with endorsments. 2K Sports, Sprint, Panini and BBVA are among the top companies that pay Durant in endorsments. Of course his shoe deal with Nike after a battle with Under Armour will make him among the highest paid basketball players in the next year or two.
#4 Derrick Rose
Total Earnings- $36.6 million
Salary/Winnings- $17.6 million
Endorsments-$19 million
Derrick Rose might have missed close to two full seasons, however his bank account till continues to receive the full sum payable to him from the 5 year $95 million deal that he made with the Chicago Bulls. He has signed a massive 13 year $185 million deal with Adidas. Other sponsors are Wilson, Skullcandy and Powerade.
#3 Blake Griffin
Total Earnings- $56.2 million
Salary/Winnings- $4.2 million
Endorsments-$52 million
Unlike Bryant and James, Blake Griffin has signed a shoe deal with Nike through Air Jordan, nonetheless his shoes have been going off the shelves almost as fast as James’.
Other Sponsors who pay a huge sum in return for Griffin’s service in marketing their product or company is KIA, Subway, McDonalds, EA Sports and Foot Locker.
#2 Kobe Bryant
Total Earnings- $61.5 million
Salary/Winnings- $30.5 million
Endorsments- $31 million
Purely on the basis of salary, Bryant is the highest paid player in the NBA for the fourth straight year despite being 36 years of age. He is another player who has a huge shoe deal with Nike, he also sponsors Lenovo, Hublot, Turkish Airlines and Panini.
#1 LeBron James
Total Earnings- $72.3 million
Salary/Winnings- $19.3 million
Endorsments- $53 million
Other than a huge deal with Nike, McDonalds, Samsung, Dunkin’ Donuts, Coca Cola and Upper Deck are some of the major companies whose sum helps James receive money in endorsments in almost double to what he earns for his actions on the court. His shoes made and sold by Nike were the highest selling in 2013 billing almost $300 million. He also tops the list when it comes most sold jerseys in the league.
Most certainly at the peak of his career, James is a four time NBA MVP and two time NBA Champion and NBA Finals MVP.
