While overall NBA players costs "are down, the stars are still raking it in," according to Kurt Badenhausen of FORBES. The top 10 NBAers will "collectively earn around $340 million this year alone through salary and endorsements, with big market players dominant." Seven of the top 10 play in N.Y, L.A. or Chicago, "with two others hailing from sunny, no-income-tax Miami." Lakers G Kobe Bryant topped the list with a salary $7M higher than "any other player's." Nike sells "twice as many Bryant sneakers in China as in the U.S." The NBA's popularity is "soaring in China, helping players land lucrative deals with Nike, adidas and Coke as the brands fight to expand their reach in Asia." Below is the list of top 10 NBA earners (FORBES, 2/11 issue).
|
TOP 10 HIGHEST-EARNING NBA PLAYERS
|
|
RK
|
PLAYER |
EARNINGS
|
ON-COURT
|
OFF-COURT
|
|
1
|
Lakers G Kobe Bryant |
$59.8M
|
$27.8M
|
$32M
|
|
2
|
Heat F LeBron James |
$57.6M
|
$17.6M
|
$40M
|
|
3
|
Bulls G Derrick Rose |
$32.4M
|
$16.4M
|
$16M
|
|
4
|
Heat G Dwyane Wade |
$30.2M
|
$17.2M
|
$13M
|
|
5
|
Thunder F Kevin Durant |
$29.7M
|
$16.7M
|
$13M
|
|
6
|
Knicks F Carmelo Anthony |
$28.4M
|
$19.4M
|
$9M
|
|
7
|
Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire |
$27.9M
|
$19.9M
|
$8M
|
|
8
|
Lakers C Dwight Howard |
$26.5M
|
$19.5M
|
$7M
|
|
9
|
Clippers G Chris Paul |
$24.8M
|
$17.8M
|
$7M
|
|
10
|
Lakers F Pau Gasol |
$21.5M
|
$19M
|
$2.5M
|
