40 NBA stars made top 100 highest paid athletes list: LeBron, Curry, and Durant make top 10
40 NBA stars made Sportico’s 2025 highest-paid athletes list, with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant all ranking inside the global top ten.
The NBA continues to dominate the global sports economy, with a record 40 players earning places on Sportico’s list of the 100 highest-paid athletes for 2025.
The rankings show how the league’s top names combine on-court contracts and off-court partnerships to generate some of the highest incomes in world sport.
Full list of NBA players in 2025 top 100 highest-paid athletes
Sportico’s data shows that the NBA’s biggest stars earned more than $2.6 billion combined in 2025. LeBron James leads the way, while Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all feature among the world’s top 15 highest-paid athletes.
The 40 NBA players listed by Sportico in 2025 are:
- LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers – $128.7 million
- Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors – $105.4 million
- Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets – $100.8 million
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks – $94.3 million
- Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves – $62.2 million
- Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers – $62 million
- Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics – $60.4 million
- Jimmy Butler – Golden State Warriors – $60.3 million
- Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets – $60.2 million
- Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns – $59 million
- Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers – $57.7 million
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder – $56.5 million
- Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers – $56.4 million
- Karl-Anthony Towns – New York Knicks – $54.7 million
- Kawhi Leonard – LA Clippers – $54.1 million
- Tyrese Haliburton – Indiana Pacers – $53.4 million
- Paul George – Philadelphia 76ers – $53.3 million
- James Harden – LA Clippers – $50.9 million
- Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics – $50.7 million
- Anthony Davis – Dallas Mavericks – $50 million
- Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers – $49.3 million
- Trae Young – Washington Wizards – $47.7 million
- Zach LaVine – Sacramento Kings – $47.6 million
- Zion Williamson – New Orleans Pelicans – $47.4 million
- Kyrie Irving – Dallas Mavericks – $46.9 million
- Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies – $44.5 million
- Bradley Beal – LA Clippers – $44.5 million
- Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets – $44.3 million
- Pascal Siakam – Indiana Pacers – $44 million
- Lauri Markkanen – Utah Jazz – $43.9 million
- Franz Wagner – Orlando Magic – $42.5 million
- LaMelo Ball – Charlotte Hornets – $41 million
- Domantas Sabonis – Sacramento Kings – $41 million
- Michael Porter Jr. – Brooklyn Nets – $40.6 million
- De’Aaron Fox – San Antonio Spurs – $39.6 million
- Rudy Gobert – Minnesota Timberwolves – $39.6 million
- Darius Garland – Cleveland Cavaliers – $38.6 million
- Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers – $38.5 million
- Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons – $38.2 million
- OG Anunoby – New York Knicks – $37.9 million
NBA dominates global earnings landscape
LeBron James ranks fifth overall on the global list, with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant also making the top ten.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Jayson Tatum are among those leading a new generation of global earners, while rising stars such as Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton continue to break into elite financial territory.
The dominance of NBA players highlights the league’s ability to merge athletic performance and global marketing appeal.
Combined, basketball’s top 40 earners generated over $2.6 billion in 2025, reinforcing the NBA’s position as one of the most powerful brands in sport.
Read More: Where F1 star Lando Norris ranks against LeBron James in 2025 highest-paid athletes list
Source: Sports Yahoo
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