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Jokic signs largest contract in NBA history: Who will be the 10 highest-paid players in 2022/23?

Steph Curry

NBA players earn a hell of a lot of money. LeBron James came second in the 2022 world’s highest-paid athletes list. But what about the salaries of the league's other top players?

With the 2022 free agency market now open, lots of teams are getting their players signed to new contracts, while looking to bring in the best talent available on the open market.

After signing a five-year supermax deal with the Denver Nuggets, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic now has the most expensive contract in the league's history, overtaking Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Shortly after news broke about Jokic's new deal, it was then revealed that Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal penned a five-year, $251m extension, which is the second-largest contract ever.
Jokic does not feature on this list as his extension will kick in next year. Beal, though, will earn his big bucks straight away as he was able to become a free agent this year.

Four-time champion Stephen Curry will average $40.2m per year with the Golden State Warriors.

Planet Sport gives you the ten highest salaries in the NBA for the 2022/23 campaign, not including off-court earnings.

10) Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors ($40.6m)

Kicking off the list is a newly-crowned NBA champion.
Thompson claimed his fourth ring last month as the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in six games in the finals.
After suffering two horrible injuries, Thompson has bounced back and will earn a pretty penny, slotting into the top ten with James Harden and John Wall vacating from the previous season.

=7) Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers ($42.5m)

The undoubted leader of the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard has been in Rip City since he was drafted in 2012. The six-time All-Star will earn over $42m for his work next season, $3m more than 21/22.

Lillard is one of the best three-point shooters and arguably the most loyal player in the league so it is no surprise that the Trail Blazers tied him down on this mammoth contract.

=7) Kawhi Leonard - Los Angeles Clippers ($42.5m)

The two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP has earned his money with his two previous teams, winning a championship for the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs. He is yet to win with the Clippers and was injured during the playoffs last year which resulted in him missing the entirety of the 21/22 regular and post-season.

Leonard will be back in action next season as he looks to bring the Clips their first championship. They have been boosted by the acquisition of John Wall after he agreed to a buyout with the Houston Rockets.

=7) Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks ($42.5m)

On the exact same salary as Leonard and Lillard, Antetokounmpo signed the then-biggest contract in NBA history in December 2020 and is the only athlete in Forbes' rich-list top ten who is in their 20s.

He paid the franchise back almost instantly by guiding them to their first championship since 1971 and the Greek Freak is far from done as he chases down more rings.

6) Paul George - Los Angeles Clippers ($42.4m)

George was traded to the Clippers from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and the rights to swap two other first round picks in July 2019.

George will earn $176,265,466 over the course of his four-year contract, which ends in 2025, when he will become an unrestricted free agent if he uses his player option the year prior.

5) Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets ($42.9m)

Durant also featured on Forbes' top ten list alongside Giannis; coming in sixth place as he will earn $50m off the field and raked in $42,018,900 last season. Not too shabby.

The Brooklyn Nets forward joined his team in 2019 in a sign-and-trade deal and did not appear at all during the 19/20 season after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2019 Finals.

After running the Bucks very close in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, Durant was swept for the first time in his career this season.

The former Thunder hero has recently requested a trade out of Brooklyn.

4) Bradley Beal - Washington Wizards ($43.2 m)

The second and final new addition to the list, Beal signed the second-largest contract in NBA history after opting out of his $36.4m player option to sign a max deal.

Beal recently said that he 'wants to win', which he will struggle to do in Washington. But you never know.

Either way, securing the bag is clearly more appealing than getting a shiny ring on your finger.

3) LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers ($44.4m)

After earning $41.2m last season, LeBron will see over $44m on his payslip over the entirety of 22/23.

Second in Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes of the year behind Lionel Messi, LeBron earns nearly double his salary off the court through acting, sponsorships and investments.

2) Russell Westbrook - Los Angeles Lakers ($47.1m)

James' teammate, Westbrook, is on a higher salary this year, earning a colossal $47,063,478.

The point guard signed a supermax deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and has since played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, and now the Lakers.

Westbrook triggered his player option to be on this contract, much to the dismay of the Lakers fans.

1) Steph Curry - Golden State Warriors ($48.07m)

The highest on-court earner in the NBA, Curry will be paid $48,070,014 for the season after signing a five year $201,158,790 supermax contract.

The Warriors point guard is one of the best to ever do it and is a hugely influential figure, basically reinventing the NBA into the three-point orientated league it is now.

Curry - who recently claimed his first Finals MVP award - was fifth on Forbes' list, also earning $47m for his off-field work.

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