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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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