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25 Highest-Paid NBA Players of the 2020 Season

This has been a mind-numbing year for the sports world, particularly NBA basketball. We started 2020 with the heartbreaking loss of NBA's Greatest Player of All-Time Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash on January 26th. As sports fans are recovering from this devastating loss, the coronavirus hit and all games were suspended on March 12th.

As everyone scrambles for answers, let's take a minute to reflect on some of NBA's greatest players in the 2020 season. We will look at the NBA's highest-paid players' salary and where applicable, their income from endorsements and other sources. This data was taken from multiple sources (especially on endorsements), but mostly from NBA, Forbes, ESPN, and Bleacher Report.

After doing this report, we certainly realized that players make more off the court than on it!

Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors

$85.2 Million Net Worth, $40.2 Million NBA Salary, $40 Million Endorsements
It took Stephen Curry eight years to get paid like a superstar, but now he's on the list of the world's highest-paid athletes, according to Forbes. Curry has an estimated $42 million in endorsement deals, the largest coming from Under Armour for $4 million a year.

In 2015, Curry and Under Armour extended their shoe endorsement contract through 2024 and included equity in the business, with an estimated value of more than $14 billion. In addition to Under Armour, Curry has signed endorsement deals with Brita, Unilever, JP Morgan Chase, Infiniti, Sony, Press Play, and Vivo.

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Russell Westbrook - Houston Rockets

Russell Westbrook - Houston Rockets

$56.5 Million Net Worth, $38.5 Million NBA Salary, $18 Million Endorsements
Westbrook signed the largest contract in NBA history worth $206 million over five years in 2017 with the Oklahoma City Thunder. This contract extension began in the 2018-19 season and extends through the 2022-23 season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

He later modified his contract to help the Houston Rockets facilitate a trade in July 2019. The change enables the Rockets to pay less at the beginning, which helped the team. Russell also signed the largest endorsement contract in Nike's Jordan Brand history in 2017. A year later, he got his own signature shoe. His other endorsement contracts are Nike, Pepsi Co, Samsung, and True Religion Apparel.

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James Harden - Houston Rockets

James Harden - Houston Rockets

$55.2 Million Net Worth, $38.2 Million NBA Salary, $17 Million Endorsements
Harden's salary for the 2019-2020 season is $38,199,000, which is average for a franchise player in a league full of superstars. In 2023, the last year of his contract, Harden will receive a $47 million annual salary.

His star power helps him get endorsement deals, as well. He is Adidas' leading spokesman with a 13-year $200 million contract. He also has endorsement deals with Art of Sport (AOS), Electronic Arts (EA), State Farm, and Body Armor.

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Chris Paul - Oklahoma City Thunder

Chris Paul - Oklahoma City Thunder

$46.5 Million Net Worth, $38.5 Million NBA Salary, $8 Million Endorsements
Chris Paul is tied with Russell Westbrook for the second year in a row for the second highest-paid NBA player in a season. He signed a four-year contract extension with the Houston Rockets worth $159.7 million in 2018, which has a player option in the 2021-22 season.

The Point Guard was later traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder with the intention of trading him later for more assets, but the $44.2 million he's due in 2021-22 season is a roadblock. Paul's endorsements include Panini, Tissot, Nike, State Farm, Spalding, Fan Duel, and Walt Disney.

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Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant - Brooklyn Nets

$73.2 Million Net Worth, $38.2 Million NBA Salary, $35 Million Endorsements
Durant signed a four-year contract worth $164.3 million with the Nets in the 2019 off-season, despite a torn Achilles tendon. He will make over $42 million in the final year of his contract, which ends in the 2022-23 season.

Durant has a variety of endorsements, with the biggest being a contract with Nike. He signed a 10-year deal in 2014 that could reach $400 million, which includes a $50 million retirement package. His other endorsements include Alaska Airlines, Google, Gatorade, Sonic Drive-In, Beats by Dre, Skullcandy, and Sprint.

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John Wall - Washington Wizards

John Wall - Washington Wizards

$60 Million Net Worth, $38.2 Million NBA Salary, $5 Million Endorsements
Wall has played with the Wizards for his entire NBA career. He signed a four-year contract extension in 2019, and when his contract is up in 2023, he will have earned $260 million in NBA salary. He signed a new shoe deal with Adidas in 2018, which pays $4.825 million in 2017-2018.

It also increases marginally through the 2021-22 season. This package also includes bonuses if he makes the All-Star or All-NBA team. Other than that, Wall has become the face of Kumbo Tire, a South Korean tire manufacturer and NBA league partner.

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LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers

$450 Million Net Worth, $37.4 Million NBA Salary, $55 Million Endorsements
LeBron signed a four-year contract with the Lakers in 2018 worth $153.3 million. When his contract expires in 2022, LeBron will have earned more than $387 million in total NBA salary, the highest all-time earnings in NBA history. LeBron launched his own marketing company in 2006, LRMR Ventures, which is a Hollywood production company.

LeBron expanded his business empire with a digital media firm, Uninterrupted, in 2015 and got a boost with a $15.8 million investment from Time Warner. He shunned a $15 million renewal of his endorsement contract with McDonald's to focus on Blaze Pizza, where he is an investor and franchise owner. Finally, he partnered with Cindy Crawford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lindsey Vonn to launch Ladder, a health and wellness business that sells protein powder.

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Kyle Lowry - Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry - Toronto Raptors

$55 Million Net Worth, $34.9 Million NBA Salary, $1.5 Million Endorsements
Lowry signed a three-year contract with the Raptors in 2017. worth $100 million.  In October 2019, he signed a one-year contract extension through the 2020-21 season worth $31 million. This makes him the highest-paid Raptor.

Lowry's first endorsement deal was with Adidas. He then moved to endorse Chinese brand Peak. Later, Lowry returned to Adidas. He also has signed an endorsement deal with the Bank of Montreal, Ontario.

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Blake Griffin - Detroit Pistons

Blake Griffin - Detroit Pistons

$39.1 Million Net Worth, $32.1 Million NBA Salary, $7 Million Endorsements
Blake signed a five-year $173 million contract extension with the LA Clippers in 2017 but was traded to the Detroit Pistons in January 2018. His contract expires in the 2021-22 season.

Blake is the third best-paid forward this year, and the highest-paid Pistons player. Among Blake's endorsements are Subway, Electronic Arts Sports, AT&T, Kia Automotive, Panini, and Red Bull. Blake also owns a production company with NFL's Matt Kalil.

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Paul George - Los Angeles Clippers

Paul George - Los Angeles Clippers

$60 Million Net Worth, $33 Million NBA Salary, $8 Million Endorsements
George forced a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2019 in order to join Kawhi Leonard. Thanks to this move, it formed one of the NBA's best duos in history. He had signed a $137 million contract extension with the Thunder in 2018, which the Clippers took on with the trade.

George's contract expires in 2022, as his contract has a player option. George's endorsements include Bass Pro Shops, Foot Locker, Gatorade, New Era, and Nike. He has one of the most popular sneaker lines in the NBA. People inside his inner circle believe this is just the start of a booming business for Paul George, Inc.

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Kawhi Leonard - Los Angeles Clippers

Kawhi Leonard - Los Angeles Clippers

$35 Million Net Worth, $32.7 Million NBA Salary, $5.5 Million Endorsements
Leonard signed a three-year contract in July 2019 with the LA Clippers worth $103 million, with a player option to opt-out of the third year.

Leonard's NBA salary in this contract is $32,7 million first year, $34.4 million for the second year, and if he picks up a third year, it's $36 million. Leonard has an endorsement deal with New Balance that includes his own special edition of shoes. The deal is worth more than $5 million per year.

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Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors

Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors

$47.7 Million Net Worth, $32.7 Million NBA Salary, $15 Million Endorsements
In Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Klay tore his ACL and entered unrestricted free agency in an uncertain place. He was expected to receive a five-year contract from the Warriors before the injury, but now the ACL injury could create concern. However, in July 2019, Klay signed a five-year $190 million contract with the Warriors, representing a show of good faith in his long-term health.

Klay is the brand spokesman of a China-based sports brand, Anta Sports Products Ltd, that produces Stance sports socks. He also has deals with Body Armor Sports Drink, Electronic Arts (EA), Activision, Blizzard, Fanatics, Monster Energy, and Wheels Up.

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Mike Conley, Jr. - Utah Jazz

Mike Conley, Jr.  - Utah Jazz

$31.6 Million Net Worth, $32.5 Million NBA Salary, $1 Million Endorsements
Conley, Jr. signed the richest contract in NBA history in 2016. It was a five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies worth $153 million to keep him in Memphis. This was the first contract in NBA history to be over $100 million in value with an annual salary of $30 million.

However, Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz in July 2019, who picked up his contract. This contract is set to expire in 2021. He had an endorsement contract with Adidas, but he later rejected an extension with Adidas to promote Nike's Jordan brand.

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Jimmy Butler - Miami Heat

Jimmy Butler - Miami Heat

$20.6 Million Net Worth, $19.9 Million NBA Salary, $750,000 Endorsements
In July 2019, Butler was offered a five-year $190 million renewal contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he decided to turn that down when the 76ers were eliminated in the second round of the 2019 NBA playoffs. Butler made it clear that he wanted to play for the Miami Heat saying, "I kept hearing about the culture. I need that in my life."

Butler signed a four-year $142 million contract with the Heat in July 2019. The addition of Butler provides the Heat with the leading man they have been looking for the past few years. Butler's endorsements include Aquahydrate, Beats by Dre, Bonoboss, Five Four, and Hyperice.

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Kemba Walker - Boston Celtics

Kemba Walker - Boston Celtics

$40 Million Net Worth, $32.7 Million NBA Salary, $7 Million Endorsements
When the Charlotte Hornets failed to make the playoffs three seasons in a row, Kemba decided it was time for a change. In June 2019, he signed a four-year contract with the Boston Celtics worth $141 million. This makes Kemba the eighth highest-paid point guard in the NBA this season, and the highest-paid player of the Boston Celtics.

Kemba has an endorsement deal with Jordan brand to represent Hornets' team owner, Michael Jordan. Walker is also earning from autograph signing, which includes RC Rookie Card, among others. He also receives income from the entertainment industry by showing off his dancing talents in TV shows, as well as launching a mixtape with two other musicians.

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Gordon Hayward - Boston Celtics

Gordon Hayward - Boston Celtics

$34.3 Million Net Worth, $31.3 Million NBA Salary, $3 Million Endorsements
Hayward inked a four-year contract with the Celtics in 2017 worth $128 million, with a player option on the fourth year to opt-out the summer of 2020. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious leg injury just five minutes into his debut with the Boston Celtics. He's worked hard to get back to the level he was at during his signing, but he missed the entire 2017 season with a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle.

Hayward's 2018 comeback story was told in a documentary co-produced by The Players Tribune, a new media company that provides athletes with a platform to connect directly with their fans. Gordon is an avid gamer and was the first NBA player to sign an endorsement contract with eSport's HyperX in 2016. He also has endorsement deals with Anta Sports, Comcast, Dick's Sporting Goods, Fanatics, and Panini.

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Tobias Harris - Philadelphia 76ers

Tobias Harris - Philadelphia 76ers

$30 Million Net Worth, $32 Million NBA Salary
In Feb 2019, Tobias signed a five-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers worth $188 million. This makes him the fifth best-paid forward in the NBA this season. It also includes a trade bonus worth $5,000,000.

As Harris' contract is sealed with 76ers, they have a deep and talented core of players capable of winning multiple championships in the coming years. Harris' total career earnings are mostly from his NBA salary, as he is an above-average player. However, he does have endorsement deals with Nike, Ovadia & Sons, Off-White, and Damani Savile.

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Kyrie Irving - Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving - Brooklyn Nets

$51.7 Million Net Worth, $31.7 Million NBA Salary, $20 Million Endorsements
In June 2019, Kyrie signed a four-year, $141 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He opted out of his $21.3 million deal with the Boston Celtics to become a free agent in Aug 2019. He has been very "serious" about signing with the Brooklyn Nets to join Kevin Durant. Irving is also making bank on endorsement deals.

His signature Nike shoe is one of the NBA's top sellers, only being outsold by LeBron James. The point guard was on the cover of 2K18, a video game by Visual Concepts and 2K Sports. A Pepsi ad featuring Irving as the elderly Uncle Drew went viral and led to a feature film to which Irving has partial ownership of the character. Irving's jersey ranked among the NBA's best sellers. He also has endorsement deals with Foot Locker and Panini.

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Khris Middleton - Milwaukee Bucks

Khris Middleton - Milwaukee Bucks

$20 Million Net Worth, $30.6 Million NBA Salary, $1 Million Endorsements
Middleton agreed to a five-year, $178 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, which includes a player option. Middleton will become an unrestricted free agent in 2020. His impressive performance in the 2018-19 season made opting out of his previous contract a common-sense move.

Middleton is in line for a max contract worth $190 million over five seasons, so opting out just made sense. He is the fourth highest-paid player of the Bucks this season and the eighth highest-paid forward. Middleton signed a new endorsement contract with Nike in 2018 worth $177,500,000 over five years and includes his own signature shoe with the 'KM' logo on the tongue.

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Damian Lillard - Portland Trailblazers

Damian Lillard - Portland Trailblazers

$43.8 Million Net Worth, $29.8 Million NBA Salary, $14 Million Endorsements
Lillard is under contract through the 2020-21 season after he signed a five-year extension worth $120 million in 2015. He has said he wants to be known as the greatest and longest-tenured player in Portland Trailblazers' history, and the franchise is trying to make that happen.

The Blazers and Lillard are in negotiations toward a supermax deal that will pay Lillard $196 million over four seasons. This includes a player option for $54.3 million in the final year. Lillard just signed an endorsement contract extension with Adidas worth $100 million, the biggest shoe deal since Derrick Rose signed a 13-year deal in 2012.

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Kevin Love - Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Love - Cleveland Cavaliers

$60 Million Net Worth, $28.9 Million NBA Salary, $4 Million Endorsements
Love's contract with the Cavaliers was set to expire at the end of the 2019-2020 season. His career with the Cavaliers was uncertain since LeBron James left Cleveland, and Love's name was tossed around in trade rumors. However, the $90 million remaining on his contract is concerning to the franchises.

Experts were wondering if the Cavaliers would rebuild or build around Love. With Love signing a new deal with the Cavs for four years worth $120 million, he will be a Cavalier through the 2022-23 season. Love has endorsement deals with Jose Cuervo and a Chinese sportswear company, 361 Degrees. He also has contracts with American Greetings, Nike, Old Spice, Panini, and Upper Deck. 

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Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers

$32.1 Million Net Worth, $25.6 Million NBA Salary, $6.5 Million Endorsements
Embiid signed a five-year contract extension worth $148 million with the 76ers in 2017. Embiid has struggled with injuries, and this contract includes salary-cap protection for the 76ers in the event he is significantly injured. He played 1,912 minutes in 63 regular-season games in the 2017-18 season. He is now playing without a minutes restriction due to injury and is a favorite to surpass the numbers he recorded in previous seasons.

Embiid's contract extension lasts through the 2022-23 season. He's the third highest-paid center this year and the third highest-paid player of the 76ers. He previously had an endorsement contract with Adidas but switched to Under Armour. The contract with Under Armour makes him the highest-paid center in the NBA. His other endorsement deals include Amazon, Electronic Arts (EA), Fanatics, Hulu, and Mountain Dew.

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Kristaps Porzingis - Dallas Mavericks

Kristaps Porzingis - Dallas Mavericks

$8 Million Net Worth, $27 Million NBA Salary, $6 Million Endorsements
Porzingis signed a five-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks worth $158 million, the largest deal Dallas has ever given to a player since the franchise was established in 1980. His contract does not include any injury protection or minutes and games played clauses. Porzingis did not play in the 2018-19 season due to a torn ACL, so he has a lot to prove in the 2019-20 season. He has forged a strong connection with the Mavs Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic, and the two appear to be a good long-term team.

Porzingis has endorsements with Body Armour, Delta Airlines, and Shifman Mattress. His jersey is the sixth most popular in the NBA store, and the demand for Porzingis collectibles can be seen on eBay. He also signed a multi-year contract with Adidas and will make between $3 million and $6 million per year as part of the biggest shoe deal for a European player.

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Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns

$2 Million Net Worth, $29.4 Million NBA Salary
Booker signed a five-year contract extension with the Suns in July 2018 worth $158 million and lasts through the 2023-24 season. This makes him the highest-paid player in the Sun's franchise. Booker's yearly salary is $27.2 million in 2019-20, $29.4 million in 2020-21, $31.6 million in 2021-22, $33.7 million in 2022-23 and $35.9 million in 2023-24.

Booker became a sneaker free agent in 2019, and he signed a player exclusive on the Nike Zoom Rev 2017 and Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro PE. He will get his own signature shoe if he stays with Nike, but Under Armour could bring Booker on to complement Stephen Curry. Once an offer is signed, Nike has a match clause on all of their existing deals to match an offer from a competitor.

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Karl-Anthony Towns - Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns - Minnesota Timberwolves

$10 Million Net Worth, $29.4 Million NBA Salary, $2.5 Million Endorsements
Towns signed a five-year contract extension in Sept 2018 worth $190 million with the Timberwolves. He is not eligible for the full supermax, but another season on the team could allow him to earn 30% of Minnesota's salary cap. The Timberwolves could also write this contingency into his contract.

In six years, his career earnings will near the $200 million mark.  His endorsements are extensive, including Kit Kat, Panini, Nike, Beats by Dre, Gatorade, Pro Camp/Hyvee, 2K Sports, Jack Link's Beef Jerkey, Verizon, and Call of Duty. He also appeared on the Tonight Show and guest-starred on a Disney Channel show.

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