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#8 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki will be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer when his time comes, and he has earned it, along with huge paydays during his legendary NBA career.
Dirk earned $251,646,362 during his 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks. As much as the Mavs compensated the one-time league MVP, he returned it handsomely on the court.
Nowitzki led the charge to Dallas' only NBA championship in 2011. He earned Finals MVP during a tremendous run in the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
He ranks sixth in points scored in NBA history with 31,560.
#7 Carmelo Anthony
Much like Dwight Howard's case, Carmelo Anthony's best days are gone. But those days were stunning.
Anthony came into the NBA after being selected third in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Carmelo remains a solid piece on offense. He averaged 15 points per game last year and made 39 percent of his three-pointers with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, his days of leading the league in scoring are gone.
Still, Carmelo has earned $259,881,402 in his 17-year career. Earn is the right word, as he has been selected to six All-NBA teams and 10 All-Star teams.
#6 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is the best player on the planet for some, despite LeBron James' greatness and consistency. Whether you agree with that statement or not, Durant has been one of the greatest players in the league since his NBA debut in 2007.
Before the sign-and-trade that sent him from Golden State to the Brooklyn Nets, Durant had signed contracts worth less than his real market value. However, his current contract is a four-year deal worth over $164 million.
Even with his team-friendly contracts, Durant ranks sixth in NBA history with earnings over $264 million.
He deserves all the money he has been paid, as Durant is a two-time Finals MVP, a league MVP, and a nine-time All-NBA player.
#5 Shaquille O'Neal
The first athlete on this list to have played a vast part of his career during the 1990s, Shaquille O'Neal's earnings were as impactful as he was on the court.
Shaq, still a big figure in the NBA world, earned over $286 million during his playing days (1992-2011).
O'Neal was one of the most dominant players in NBA history. He won four NBA championships with the LA Lakers and the Miami Heat and earned three Finals MVP trophies.
Moreover, Shaq won one NBA MVP, was a 15-time NBA All-Star and earned 14 All-NBA selections.
