How Much Do NBA Players Make Per Year?
Contents
We all know that NBA players are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. But just how much do they make? Here’s a look at the average salaries of NBA players by season.
NBA Players’ Salaries
On average, NBA players make $5.15 million per year. However, there is a wide range of salaries, with some players making over $20 million and others making the league minimum of $507,336. The highest-paid player in the NBA is Stephen Curry, who makes $37.46 million per year.
The average NBA player’s salary
The average NBA player’s salary is $7.7 million per year. The salary for a rookie in the NBA is $558,000 per year. The salary for an experienced NBA player is $27.1 million per year.
The highest-paid NBA player
The highest-paid NBA player for the 2019-2020 season is Stephen Curry, who earns a salary of $37.46 million with the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James is a close second, earning $36.54 million with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kevin Durant rounds out the top three, earning $30 million with the Brooklyn Nets.
The lowest-paid NBA player
The NBA has a minimum salary of $562,493 for the 2019-20 season. That figure will increase to $764,638 for the 2020-21 season and to $913,246 for the 2021-22 season. There is no maximum salary in the NBA. NBA players’ salaries are based on a percentage of the league’s Basketball Related Income (BRI). BRI includes revenue from television contracts, ticket sales and other sources.
NBA Players’ Endorsements
NBA players are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. The average salary for an NBA player is over $7 million per year. However, many players make much more than that through endorsements. For example, LeBron James is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, and he makes a significant portion of his income through endorsements.
The average NBA player’s endorsement deals
While the average NBA player’s salary is $7.4 million, their endorsement deals can often be just as lucrative, if not more so. The average NBA player’s endorsement earnings are $12 million per year, although some players can earn much more than that. For example, LeBron James is reportedly set to make $35 million in endorsements this year alone.
The most common type of endorsement deal for NBA players is with footwear and apparel companies. Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour are all major sponsors of the NBA and individual players. Other popular endorsements include deals with automobile companies, soft drink companies, and mobile phone companies.
Many endorsed products are sold in China, where the NBA has a large following. In fact, the NBA is the most popular sport in China, and players like Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming have been very successful in marketing their products to Chinese consumers.
The highest-paid NBA player from endorsements
The highest-paid NBA player from endorsements is LeBron James, who made $52 million in 2018. James’ endorsement deals include Nike, Coca-Cola, Beats by Dre, and Kia. Other high-earning NBA players from endorsements include Kevin Durant ($36 million), Stephen Curry ($34 million), and James Harden ($28 million).
The lowest-paid NBA player from endorsements
The lowest-paid NBA player from endorsements is Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat. His salary from endorsements is $265,000.
How NBA Players’ Salaries Compare to Other Athletes
The average NBA player salary is $7.7 million per year, which is more than double the average salary of other professional athletes. NBA players also make more money than athletes in any other sport. For example, the average MLB player salary is $4 million per year, and the average NFL player salary is $2.7 million per year. NBA players’ salaries have been rising steadily over the past few years, and they are expected to continue to rise in the future.
The average salary of other professional athletes
When it comes to professional athletes, there is a wide range of salaries. Of course, the highest-paid athletes are usually in the major leagues, such as baseball, basketball, and football. However, there are other sports where the athletes make just as much money, if not more. For example, in golf, Tiger Woods is the highest-paid athlete with an annual salary of $77.0 million. In tennis, Roger Federer is the highest-paid athlete with an annual salary of $106.3 million. And in Formula One racing, Lewis Hamilton is the highest-paid athlete with an annual salary of $54.0 million.
In general, NBA players are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. The average NBA player makes $7.7 million per year. That is more than double the average salary of MLB players, which is $3.2 million per year. It is also more than triple the average salary of NHL players, which is $2.4 million per year. And it is more than quadruple the average salary of NFL players, which is $1.9 million per year. Not all NBA players make this much money though. The minimum salary for an NBA player is $582 thousand per year
The highest-paid athlete in the world
In 2019, LeBron James was the highest-paid athlete in the world, earning $89 million between salary and endorsements. He narrowly beat out Cristiano Ronaldo, who earned $88 million. Ronaldo had been the highest-paid athlete for the previous four years.
Other top earners included Neymar ($79.5 million), Roger Federer ($77.2 million), and Steph Curry ($76.9 million). Of the top 10 highest-paid athletes, seven were from the NBA. The average NBA player earned $7.4 million in 2019, which was more than any other professional sport.
The lowest-paid athlete in the world
In 2019, the lowest-paid athlete in the world is Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Rolando, who earns an annual salary of $450,000. That’s right: the world’s least-compensated athlete makes less than half a million dollars a year. In contrast, the average NBA player earns about $7.4 million per year.
Of course, Ronaldo is not just any soccer player: he’s considered by many to be the best player in the world, and he has won five Ballon d’Or awards (given to the best player in Europe). He also has endorsement deals that reportedly bring in another $40 million per year. So while his salary may be low compared to other athletes, his total compensation is still quite high.
There are a few other notable names on the list of lowest-paid athletes. Turkish basketball player Ender Arslan earns an annual salary of $500,000, while Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell and Colombian tennis player Santiago Giraldo both earn $600,000 per year.
