Top Three Earners in the NBA: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant

Lebron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the three players who earn the most in the NBA. EFE

There is, little by little, a change of era in the NBA. In the names that dominate it. LeBron, Curry and Durant, surely the great stars of the last 15 years, are still there. And at a high level. But, little by little, other superstars appear and are taking the best competition in the world by storm. We talk about Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Doncic and Jason Tatum, among others, while those already installed resist, especially the foreign army that has governed these last four years, formed by Serbian Nikola Jokic (MVP in three of the last four), the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (two and one championship, between 2019 and 2020) and Cameroonian Joel Embiid (one MVP). But, little by little, we see it in these playoffs, the scenario is changing. And one area where it is noticeable is in salaries, because these figures still do not make the top 20, it will only happen in a few years, when they receive the contracts that today they prove to deserve. This season, for example, none of the 10 highest paid will win the ring and in that top 20 mentioned there are only two in the running: the always controversial Rudy Gobert (13th) and Luka (16th).

Curry, the best shooter in history, the man who changed the game and today remains one of the faces of the NBA, is the leader in salaries with almost 52 million. Then comes Durant (47.7 million) and right there is the King (47.6). The trident that has captivated in these decades. But none of them have reached important playoff stages, more due to collective shortcomings than their own, since all three remain in the elite. Fourth is Jokic, who once again proved to be the best player in the world but was left out of the West final, in Game 7, at home, to the surprise of many. Embiid, fifth on the list with 46.9 million, had a complicated season due to injuries. The most unusual of the top 10 is Bradley Beal (46.7), who left Washington to go to Phoenix, with Durant, looking to fight for a championship, and everything ended in failure. Another one. Lillard sought the same thing, going with Giannis (both share 7th place with 46.6m) to Milwaukee, and everything ended before its time. Something similar happened with two other teammates (Leonard and George, both with 45.6) on the Clippers.

Nikola Jokic, the fourth highest-paid NBA player. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Gobert, the defensive wide of the surprising Wolves, appears 13th, behind Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson. Precisely the star of Minnesota and possibly of these playoffs, Anthony Edwards, just appears in 116th position with 13.5 million. Of course, next year he makes a big jump in salary, going to 42.3, something more in line with what he deserves. In fact, today he is the fourth highest paid player on Pablo Prigioni’s team, behind Gobert (41m), Karl Anthony Towns (36m) and Mike Conley (24.4). The Wolves have impacted and captivated, not so much from the names (they are the #13 team in salary expenses) but from the operation and defense.

Their conference final rival is Dallas, which did make a more important bet, bringing in Kyrie Irving to make this impressive duo that we enjoy today with Luka. However, he is not in the top 10 highest paying teams either. He appears 11th with almost 167m. Basically because, except for Doncic with 40 and Kyrie with 37 (#22), the rest earn “little”, sharing the other 90m. Workers led by PJ Washington and Derrick Lively, who as a rookie earns a bargain (4.8) and performs like a figure.

Anthony Edwards, just appears in position 116°r. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

On the other side, the East, is even more surprising because the first star that appears is Siakam, the Pacers’ Cameroonian, ranked #21 with 37.9 million. At #23 comes Jrue Holiday, the point guard with enormous defense and physical ability that the Celtics added to become champions again and remain alone on the list of most titles in the NBA, unseating the Lakers. Then, at #26, there is the Latvian Porzingis (with 34m), the other piece that Boston added to enhance its two pillars, Tatum and Jaylen Brown. We see Jason in place #37 with 32.6m and the other member of the dynamic duo is #41 with 31.8.

Returning to the list, it appears as an injustice to see some players so far ahead, like Zach LaVine (#16 with 40m), and others, like Shai Gilgeous Alexander, top 5 in the NBA today, star of the Thunder, only in #34 place with 33.4. But there is an explanation for this: many times the big level comes before the big payout. You have to make merit first, demonstrate, and then charge a lot. It even happens many times that you end up pocketing the most when you already have a level that does not belong to that elite.

For now, not everything is about money in the NBA. This time, the winners did not make it to the definition. There is a change of time, of era, and the world enjoys it. Welcome!

2024-05-25 04:45:00
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