Who Makes the Most Money in the NBA?

We all know that professional athletes make a lot of money, but just how much do they make? In this blog post, we take a look at the who makes the most money in the NBA.

The NBA’s Highest-Paid Players

The NBA’s highest-paid players typically have large contracts with their teams and also earn a significant amount of money from endorsement deals. The following lists the league’s ten highest-paid players for the 2019-2020 season, according to Forbes.

1. LeBron James – $88.7 million
2. Kevin Durant – $65.4 million
3. Kyrie Irving – $62.6 million
4. Russell Westbrook – $53.7 million
5. James Harden – $47.8 million
6. Damian Lillard – $46.1 million
7. Steph Curry – $43.9 million
8. Chris Paul – $38.5 million
9. John Wall – $38.2 million
10. Klay Thompson – $35.8 million

The NBA’s Most Valuable Teams

In the wide-open NBA, any team can make a run at the title. But which teams are bringing in the most revenue? Here are the NBA’s most valuable teams, according to Forbes’ annual valuation report.

1. New York Knicks
The Knicks are worth an estimated $4 billion, making them the most valuable team in the NBA. The team brings in an impressive $471 million in annual revenue, and they play in one of the league’s most iconic arenas, Madison Square Garden.

2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are worth an estimated $3.7 billion, making them the second most valuable team in the NBA. The team generates a whopping $694 million in annual revenue, thanks in large part to their huge local TV deal.

3. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are worth an estimated $3.5 billion, making them the third most valuable team in the NBA. The team has been on a tear lately, winning three of the last four NBA championships. Their success on the court has translated to success off the court, as they generate a healthy $504 million in annual revenue.

The NBA’s Highest-Paid Coaches

Coaches in the National Basketball Association (NBA) earn far less than their counterparts in professional baseball, football and hockey. In fact, NBA head coaches are typically paid less than half of what NFL coaches make on average. But there are still a handful of NBA coaches who earn big money.

The following is a list of the highest-paid NBA coaches, according to estimates from Forbes magazine (updated for the 2017-18 season). These figures include both base salary and any additional income from endorsements and other sources.

1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs: $11 million
2. Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder: $6.7 million
3. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors: $6 million
4. Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks: $5 million
5. Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers: $5 million
6. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat: $4 million
7. Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics: $3.9 million
8. Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz: $3 million
9. Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers: $2.75 million
10. Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors: $2 million

The NBA’s Highest-Paid Broadcasters

The NBA’s highest-paid broadcasters are a who’s who of the biggest names in the business. They include former players, current coaches and analysts, and even a couple of high-profile television personalities.

Here are the five highest-paid NBA broadcasters, according to Forbes:

1. TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal – $32 million
2. ESPN analyst and former player Jon Barry – $6 million
3. ABC/ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy – $4 million
4. Turner Sports reporter Ernie Johnson – $3 million
5. TNT studio host Kevin Harlan – $2 million