The NBA’s 10 highest-paid players for 2024 ranked and LeBron James isn’t No 1

He might be the NBA’s most decorated active player, but LeBron James is not the league’s top earner.

The 39-year-old Los Angeles Lakers icon is now in his 22nd NBA season and has already broken yet more new ground in the new campaign as, alongside eldest son Bronny who was drafted by the Lakers earlier this year, he became part of the first father-son duo to play together in the league’s history.

That distinction adds to James’ glittering legacy that includes four NBA titles, four Most Valuable Player awards and the record as the league’s all-time highest scorer.

But a list of the NBA’s top 10 highest-paid players for the 2024-25 season does not include the former Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat mega-star.

Instead, top spot belongs to Steph Curry.

The Golden State Warriors guard has enjoyed a stellar start to the new season, leading his team to a 10-3 record – only the undefeated Cavaliers have lost fewer games thus far – while averaging a team-best 23 points per game.

And the 36-year-old two-time MVP’s efforts are being richly rewarded, with a reported salary of $55.8m.

The next three top earners are also former MVPs.

Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic, the reigning Most Valuable Player, comes in second, taking home a whopping $51.4m.

Next up is 2023 MVP Joel Embiid, who will match Jokic’s figure despite the fact injuries and stuttering form mean the Philadelphia 76ers big man has not been at his best so far this term.

And in third is a former team-mate of Curry’s, Kevin Durant.

The 6ft 11ins forward is regarded as one of the best scorers in NBA history and won two titles with Curry on the Warriors. Now playing for the Phoenix Suns, his salary for 2024 is listed as $51.2m.

Durant’s Suns colleague Bradley Beal ($50m) completed the top five, ahead of Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics ($49.7m), another Suns star in Devin Booker ($49.2), Embiid’s new Sixers team-mate Paul George ($49.2m), Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers ($49.2m) and New York Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns ($49.2m).