15 highest-paid NBA stars playing today: LeBron James’ history-making US$97 million LA Lakers deal puts him up top – but what about legends Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul?

As LeBron James’ history-making, US$97.1 million two-year contract extension at the LA Lakers just proved, NBA contracts keep getting bigger and bigger. And bigger. Just take a look at these 15 top-paid, still-active players whose earnings have all topped US$200 million so far – and counting. How did LeBron James become the first active NBA player billionaire? 15. Kyle Lowry – US$217 million Age: 36 Team: Miami Heat Awards: 6x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Career stats: 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists Current contract: 3 years, US$85 million One thing to know: Lowry is unique in that he didn’t make his first All-Star team until his ninth season, when he was 28. He’s been one of the NBA’s best guards since. 14. Paul George – US$217.1 million Age: 32 Team: LA Clippers Awards: 7x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 4x All-Defensive, Most Improved Player Career stats: 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists Current contract: 4 years, US$176 million One thing to know: George has long been one of the NBA’s best two-way players but has struggled to stay healthy. He’s played in just 58 per cent of games the last three seasons. 13. Mike Conley – $227 million Age: 34 Team: Utah Jazz Awards: 1x All-Star, 1x All-Defensive Career stats: 14.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists Current contract: 3 years, US$68 million One thing to know: Conley may not have made many All-Star teams, but he’s always been among the steadiest, two-way guards in the NBA and a fit on any team. 12 richest NBA players of 2022: net worths, ranked 12. John Wall – US$229.1 million Age: 31 Team: LA Clippers Awards: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x All-Defensive Career stats: 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists Current contract: 2 years, US$13 million One thing to know: The bulk of John Wall’s earnings came from a four-year, US$171 million contract he signed in 2017. Because of injuries and a trade request, he played just 40 games on it. 11. Kevin Love – US$235.2 million Age: 33 Team: Cleveland Cavaliers Awards: 5x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, Most Improved Player Career stats: 17.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists Current contract: 4 years, US$120 million One thing to know: Love is entering the final year of his contract. Might this be his last season in Cleveland? 10. Al Horford – US$239.1 million Age: 36 Team: Boston Celtics Awards: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x All-Defensive Career stats: 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists Current contract: 4 years, US$109 million One thing to know: According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Horford has only US$14.5 million of his US$26.5 million salary guaranteed, but it becomes fully guaranteed if he wins the finals. The Celtics are currently the betting favourites to win the championship. 10 richest tennis stars of 2022, from Nadal to Federer – net worths, ranked 9. Dwight Howard – US$245.1 million Age: 36 Team: Free agent Awards: 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 5x All-Defensive Career stats: 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists Current contract: n/a One thing to know: Howard ranks ninth in all-time earnings, but he has never signed a deal worth over US$100 million, a sign of his longevity in the league. 8. Stephen Curry – US$254.7 million Age: 34 Team: Golden State Warriors Awards: 2X MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Career stats: 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists Current contract: 4 years, US$215 million One thing to know: Curry was once underpaid, becoming MVP on a four-year, US$44 million contract. Last summer, he became the first player to ever sign a second US$200 million deal. 7. Blake Griffin – US$255.7 million Age: 33 Team: Free agent Awards: 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Career stats: 19.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists Current contract: n/a One thing to know: Griffin is only three years removed from an All-NBA season. He has certainly lost a step since, and he fell out of favour with the Nets last year, but he might still have more to offer a contender in a limited role. How does Cristiano Ronaldo spend his US$500 million net worth? 6. Carmelo Anthony – US$262.5 million Age: 38 Team: Free agent Awards: 10x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Career stats: 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists Current contract: n/a One thing to know: Anthony is just 307 points away from passing Shaquille O’Neal for 10th all time in points. 5. James Harden – US$268.6 million Age: 32 Team: Philadelphia 76ers Awards: 1x MVP, 10x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, Sixth Man of the Year Career stats: 24.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists Current contract: 2 years, US$68 million One thing to know: Harden took a significant discount with the 76ers this off-season, perhaps the result of a down year in 2021-22. But it also helped the Sixers built a formidable squad that should compete for a championship next spring. 4. Russell Westbrook – US$288.5 million Age: 33 Team: Los Angeles Lakers Awards: 1x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA Career stats: 22.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists Current contract: 5 years, US$206 million One thing to know: Westbrook is in the final year of his contract, set to make US$44 million this season. His play has declined, however, making his contract an albatross and all but impossible to trade. 3. Kevin Durant – US$306.1 million Age: 33 Team: Brooklyn Nets Awards: 1x MVP, 12x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Career stats: 27.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists Current contract: 4 years, US$194 million One thing to know: Durant’s US$194 million extension, which he signed last summer, kicks in this year, but he has requested a trade from the Nets. Wimbledon’s ‘Wild Thing’: why is Nick Kyrgios called the bad boy of tennis? 2. Chris Paul – US$330.7 million Age: 37 Team: Phoenix Suns Awards: 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Career stats: 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists Current contract: 4 years, US$120 million One thing to know: Paul, who took less than the maximum last summer to stay with Phoenix, hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, as he led the NBA in assists last year – his 17th in the league. 1. LeBron James – US$387.3 million Age: 37 Team: Los Angeles Lakers Awards: 4x MVP, 4x Finals MVP, 18x All-Star, 18x All-NBA Career stats: 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists Current contract: 2 years, US$85 million One thing to know: James signed a two-year, US$97 million extension with the Lakers this week, which will help push his career earnings over the half billion mark. And with the way James is still playing, it’s not out of the question he signs another big deal after that. Read the original article on Insider Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.