Who are the highest paid NBA players in 2022-23 season? Stephen Curry, LeBron James top list

Scott Rafferty

Who are the highest paid NBA players in 2022-23 season? Stephen Curry, LeBron James top list image

NBA salaries sure aren't what they used to be.

Ahead of the 1997-98 season, Michael Jordan signed a one-year, $33.1 million contract with the Bulls, which set the record for the highest single-season salary in NBA history. It wasn't until 2017-18 that Jordan's record was broken by Stephen Curry.

Salaries have only skyrocketed since. While it took two decades for someone to best Jordan's salary, a total of 27 players will earn more than $33.1 million in the 2022-23 season according to Spotrac. That list includes future Hall of Famers like Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as a couple of players who haven't yet made an All-Star team in Tobias Harris and CJ McCollum.

Curry has been the NBA's highest-paid player each season since surpassing Jordan in 2017-18. He will reach another milestone in 2023-24 when he becomes the first player ever to make over $50 million in a single season. 

MORE: LeBron James passes Kevin Durant to become NBA's top all-time earner

Who are the highest paid NBA players in 2022-23 season?

Warriors star Stephen Curry is on the books for $48.1 million in the 2022-23 season, making him the league's highest earner for the sixth straight season.

Rounding out the top five are the Lakers' Russell Westbrook ($47.1 million) and LeBron James ($44.5 million), Wizards guard Bradley Beal ($43.3 million) and Nets star Kevin Durant ($43.0 million).

Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic ranks 30th but signed a historic five-year, $264 million extension during the 2022 offseason. Curry, Beal and James are the only players estimated to make more than the Nuggets star in the 2023-24 season.

Highest paid NBA players in 2022-23 season (Spotrac)
Rank Player Salary
1 Stephen Curry $48,070,014
2 Russell Westbrook $47,063,478
3 LeBron James $44,474,988
4 Bradley Beal $43,279,250
5 Kevin Durant $42,969,845
6 Paul George $42,492,568
7 Kawhi Leonard $42,492,492
  Damian Lillard $42,492,492
  Giannis Antetokounmpo $42,492,492
10 Klay Thompson $40,600,080
11 Rudy Gobert $38,172,414
12 Anthony Davis $37,980,720
13 Khris Middleton $37,948,276
14 Jimmy Butler $37,653,300
15 Tobias Harris $37,633,050
16 Luka Doncic $37,096,500
  Trae Young $37,096,500
  Zach LaVine $37,096,500
19 Kyrie Irving $36,503,300
20 Pascal Siakam $35,448,672
  Ben Simmons $35,448,672
22 Karl-Anthony Towns $33,833,400
  Devin Booker $33,833,400
  Kristaps Porzingis $33,833,400
25 Andrew Wiggins $33,616,770
  Joel Embiid $33,616,770
27 CJ McCollum $33,333,333
28 James Harden $33,000,000
29 Jrue Holiday $32,544,000
30 Nikola Jokic $32,478,838

Curry is projected to be the NBA's highest-paid player each season until his contract expires following the 2025-26 season. Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is currently set to take over the top spot with a salary of $63.2 million in 2026-27.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.