Who Gets Paid More: NBA or NFL Players?
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A recent study showed that NBA players are paid more on average than NFL players. Here’s a look at the numbers and what they mean for the two leagues.
NBA Players
Average Salary
The average NFL player salary is $2.7 million per year, while the average NBA player salary is $7.4 million. That’s nearly triple the amount! The highest-paid NFL player is Russell Wilson, who makes an astounding $35 million per year. The highest-paid NBA player is LeBron James, who brings in $33.3 million per year. In second place is Kevin Durant, who earns $26.5 million annually.
Highest-Paid Player
In the 2019-20 NBA season, the highest-paid player is Stephen Curry, who earns $37.46 million in salary with the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James is a close second, earning $37.43 million from the Los Angeles Lakers. Kevin Durant rounds out the top three, earning $30.73 million from the Brooklyn Nets.
In the NFL, the highest-paid player is Russell Wilson, who signed a four-year, $140 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. Wilson will earn an average of $35 million per year over the course of his contract. The second-highest paid NFL player is Aaron Rodgers, who signed a four-year, $134 million extension with the Green Bay Packers in 2018. Rodgers will earn an average of $33.5 million per year over his contract.
NFL Players
In 2020, the average NFL player salary was $2.7 million, while the average NBA player salary was $7.8 million. NBA players make more money than NFL players.
Average Salary
NFL players make a median salary of $860,000, which is higher than the NBA’s median salary of $772,000. However, the NBA has a higher average salary than the NFL. In the NBA, the average player makes $7.7 million per year while the average NFL player makes $2.1 million per year.
Highest-Paid Player
The highest-paid player in the NFL is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. As of 2019, Wilson’s average annual salary is $35 million. He is followed by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is making an average of $33.5 million per year.
Comparisons
Average Salary
The average annual salary for an NBA player is $7.7 million, while the average annual salary for an NFL player is $2 million. However, the average salary for an NBA player is skewed by the fact that a handful of players make much more than the average. For example, the highest-paid NBA player, LeBron James, makes $30 million per year. In contrast, the highest-paid NFL player, Tom Brady, makes $12 million per year.
Highest-Paid Player
In the National Basketball Association, the average player earns a salary of $2.7 million per year. NBA players also receive a percentage of the league’s revenue, which has grown exponentially in recent years. The league’s television contracts are worth billions of dollars and continue to grow in value. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers are worth an estimated $3 billion, while the Chicago Bulls are valued at $2.6 billion. The highest-paid player in the NBA is LeBron James, who earns an annual salary of $30 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In contrast, the average NFL player earns a salary of $1.9 million per year. NFL players also receive a percentage of league revenue, but it is not as substantial as their NBA counterparts. The NFL’s television contracts are worth billions of dollars and have also seen exponential growth in recent years. The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team in the NFL, worth an estimated $4 billion. The highest-paid player in the NFL is quarterback Eli Manning, who earns an annual salary of $21 million with the New York Giants.
