Stephen Curry steals the basketball earnings crown to end LeBron James’ 11-year reign and lead a top ten hauling in a record $902 million this season.
There is no one in NBA history who has been able to drain a 3-pointer quite like the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry. And no one can score financially quite like him, either.
Due to collect an estimated $159.6 million in pretax earnings this season—counting both his playing salary and his annual income from endorsements and other business endeavors—the 37-year-old point guard is the NBA’s highest-paid player for the first time in his storied pro career, now entering its 17th season.
In fact, across the previous 15 editions of Forbes’ annual earnings ranking, which projects income for the current basketball season, the closest anyone has come to Curry’s record-setting figure is Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James’ $128.7 million total last year.
James, who had reigned atop the NBA players list for 11 straight years, dating to 2014-15, slips to No. 2 with an estimated $137.6 million.
Curry is now the NBA’s highest-paid player both on the court, with his $59.6 million salary this season, and off it, where he is expected to haul in $100 million this year thanks to a long and lucrative list of partnerships that includes his Curry Brand division of Under Armour. According to Forbes estimates, only four other active athletes have ever cracked nine figures with their business income: golfer Tiger Woods ($105 million in 2009), tennis player Roger Federer ($100 million in 2020), MMA fighter Conor McGregor ($158 million in 2021) and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani ($100 million this year).
But Curry isn’t the only NBA star reaching new heights. Combined, the league’s ten top earners are in line to rake in $902 million this season before taxes and agents’ fees, a 15% increase over last year’s record $787 million.
That total includes $380 million off the court, blowing away the previous high of $330 million, established in 2022-23. Led by James (an estimated $85 million), the Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant ($51 million) and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo ($45 million) along with Curry, the NBA’s top ten are well ahead of the highest-paid players’ off-field totals in MLB ($120 million), the NFL ($110 million) and the NHL ($27 million), as well as global soccer ($238 million), golf ($199 million) and tennis ($192 million).
Things are going even better on the court as basketball’s skyrocketing revenue sends the league’s salary cap shooting up. This season’s ten highest-paid players are collectively set to bank $522 million before agents’ fees—two and a half times the comparable figure from a decade ago, $210 million. During that season, in 2015-16, Kobe Bryant had a league-high $25 million salary, according to contract database Spotrac; this season, 75 players will match or exceed that threshold. (By contrast, the NHL just hit a salary-cap-era record with the Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov signing for an average annual contract value of $17 million.)
And those increases don’t even reflect the cash about to pour into the NBA from its landmark national media deals, which were signed last year for a reported $76 billion over 11 years and take effect this season. That package, which will pay teams roughly $4 billion more annually on average compared with the league’s old agreements, should keep the salary cap rising—to a projected $165.5 million next season, from $154.6 million this year.
Meanwhile, Curry is set to become the first in the NBA to cross $60 million with his salary in 2026-27, at $62.6 million—another big score for a player who seemingly can’t miss.
#1. $159.6 million
Age: 37 | Position: Point Guard | Team: Golden State Warriors | On-Court: $59.6 million • Off-Court: $100 million
Eakin Howard/Getty Images
Curry is set to become the tenth player in NBA history to spend at least 17 seasons with one team, but even at the advanced basketball age of 37, he commands respect: In ESPN’s annual off-season survey of coaches, scouts and executives, Curry was named the best American-born player right now. Under contract with the Golden State Warriors until 2027 after signing a one-year extension last year, Curry is a sniper from long range both on the basketball court and on the golf course, which he proved by outdriving the hard-hitting LIV Golf pro Bryson DeChambeau in a YouTube video published last week. Curry also stays busy outside the arena with a collection of businesses under the umbrella of Thirty Ink, which CNBC reported generated $173.5 million in revenue in 2024. His production company Unanimous Media released Good Shot, a documentary about a neighborhood basketball legend, in June and is part of the team behind GOAT, an animated movie slated to hit theaters in February 2026. Meanwhile, the firm announced a podcast partnership with iHeartMedia this year and is co-producing a new show from UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd. Curry also published a book called Shot Ready, distilling his philosophy of success, in September.
#2. $137.6 million
Age: 40 | Position: Forward | Team: Los Angeles Lakers | On-Court: $52.6 million • Off-Court: $85 million
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Coming out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff exit in April, the 40-year-old James didn’t rule out retirement, continuing his pattern of recent years, and even after he exercised his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season in June, there was enough uncertainty among fans that some were fooled this month by a cryptic social media post that turned out to be part of an ad campaign for Hennessy. (One fan who bought tickets for what he thought would be one of James’ final games even filed a long-shot lawsuit.) While James is set to become the first player ever to reach 23 years in the NBA, he is showing signs of aging, with a case of sciatica expected to sideline him for the season’s first few weeks. There are no such signs of slowing with his business ventures, however, which include traditional endorsement deals with brands such as Nike, DraftKings and Amazon as well as equity plays like an investment this summer in fantasy sports website Fantasy Life. In June, James debuted a $400,000-plus watch collaboration with Richard Mille, and his men’s grooming brand, The Shop, expanded its distribution beyond Walmart and into CVS locations in March. In 2022, Forbes named James a billionaire, but he recently pushed back on that label, telling Complex, “It’s a couple thousand in my bank.”
#3. $104.3 million
Age: 37 | Position: Forward | Team: Houston Rockets | On-Court: $53.3 million • Off-Court: $51 million
Since signing a four-year, $198 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, Durant has been traded twice: to the Phoenix Suns in February 2023 and to the Houston Rockets in July. (He has also confirmed that he blocked a reunion with the Golden State Warriors last season.) On Sunday, however, the 37-year-old forward signaled some level of commitment to his new home when he signed a two-year, $90 million extension with Houston. The deal comes in at around $30 million less than the maximum contract Durant was eligible for, but he may not end up sacrificing all of that money: He has a player option for 2027-28, meaning he can become a free agent early if he is still at the top of his game heading into his age-39 season. Durant supplements his playing salary with a diverse portfolio that features partnerships with brands such as FanDuel, Dick’s Sporting Goods and café chain Joe & the Juice along with equity stakes through his family office 35V, including investments this year in sparkling water maker Spindrift and French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain. Durant also recently regained access to some cash he had already earned. In September, Coinbase said it had recovered his account on the cryptocurrency exchange after he had accidentally locked himself out years earlier.
#4. $99.1 million
Age: 30 | Position: Forward | Team: Milwaukee Bucks | On-Court: $54.1 million • Off-Court: $45 million
After inking an extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023, Antetokounmpo has two more seasons under contract, plus a player option for 2027-28, but the 30-year-old forward’s future has been uncertain since his star running mate Damian Lillard tore his Achilles tendon in April and was subsequently waived. While the Bucks are trying to make Antetokounmpo comfortable—signing his younger brother Alex to a two-way contract in October, with his older brother Thanasis already on their roster—he acknowledged in an interview with Greek outlet Sport24 in September that he might one day be traded and again left open the door to a move when he told reporters two weeks later: “I’m locked into whatever I have in front of me. Now, if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human, too.” Regardless of where the NBA takes him, however, Antetokounmpo said this month that he would like to end his career by playing in his native Greece. Off the court, he recently added Huggies to his lucrative sponsor stable of ten brands and invested in the women’s basketball league Unrivaled as well as ScorePlay, an AI-powered service for sports highlights, after launching a venture capital fund last year.
#5. $79.1 million
Age: 27 | Position: Forward | Team: Boston Celtics | On-Court: $54.1 million • Off-Court: $25 million
Tatum tore his Achilles tendon in May—months after setting an NBA record for total contract value with a five-year, $314 million extension—but the 27-year-old forward has raised Boston Celtics fans’ hopes that he might appear in a game sooner than expected. In September, he posted a video that showed him training on a court and told ESPN, “I haven’t said I’m not playing this season.” Tatum is also working hard off the court, partnering with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to promote painkiller Journavx, joining his alma mater Duke in an advisor role as “chief basketball officer” and releasing the fourth edition of his signature shoe with Nike’s Jordan Brand. The sneaker campaign’s tagline nods at his injury recovery: “Tatum will never be the same—and that’s the point.”
#6. $65.6 million
Age: 24 | Position: Shooting Guard | Team: Minnesota Timberwolves | On-Court: $45.6 million • Off-Court: $20 million
David Berding/Getty Images
With four years remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2023, and coming off two straight appearances in the Western Conference finals, Edwards has a simple goal for this season: “Championship, Minnesota Timberwolves,” as he said last month in China during a promotional tour for his second signature shoe with Adidas. According to ESPN, the 24-year-old guard spent the off-season watching videos of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as he worked on his mid-range game. “I think he became really addicted to the film room this off-season,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly told reporters. Edwards also devoted time to developing his business, which includes partnerships with Bose, Prada and Sprite. The extra cash could come in handy for a player who led the NBA with $565,000 in league-assessed fines and forfeited salary last season, according to Spotrac, mostly in connection with his use of profanity and obscene gestures toward fans, referees and reporters.
#7. $65.2 million
Age: 31 | Position: Center | Team: Philadelphia 76ers | On-Court: $55.2 million • Off-Court: $10 million
Embiid was limited to 19 games last season because of injuries and is recovering from off-season arthroscopic knee surgery, but the 31-year-old Philadelphia 76ers center, who was listed at 7 feet and 280 pounds last season, appeared in a preseason game and certainly looks ready to play, with his physique going into training camp earning him the nickname “Slimbiid” on social media. That is good news for the Sixers, who last year gave Embiid a three-year, $192.9 million extension (including a player option for 2028-29) that doesn’t even begin until next season. Off the court, Embiid has endorsement deals with Skechers and Crypto.com and is behind production studio Miniature Géant, which is currently working on a documentary about Nkwain Kennedy, a basketball player from Embiid’s native Cameroon who has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram.
#8. $65.1 million
Age: 36 | Position: Small Forward | Team: Golden State Warriors | On-Court: $54.1 million • Off-Court: $11 million
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Butler is heading into his first full season with the Golden State Warriors after he was traded in February and then inked a two-year, $111 million extension. The move ended a long-running dispute with the Miami Heat, who had suspended him multiple times for behavior that included missing a team flight and walking out of practice. The signing also represented a reversal for a player who indicated ahead of the trade deadline that he would not be interested in a new contract with the Warriors. In addition to Butler’s exploits on the basketball court, the 36-year-old forward is a serious player in another sport: padel, a hybrid between tennis and squash that has grown quickly in Europe but is just starting to catch on in the U.S. He is the honorary chairman of an annual tournament organized by Reserve Padel, a chain of clubs, and he has credited the sport with improving his hand-eye coordination, reflexes and conditioning. Butler, who has partnerships with companies including Alo Yoga, Google and Chinese sneaker brand Li-Ning, is equally serious about his beverages. He reportedly has a wine collection of about 11,000 bottles and is the founder of coffee seller Bigface, which opened a flagship store in Miami in December.
#9. $63.3 million
Age: 27 | Position: Point Guard | Team: Oklahoma City Thunder | On-Court: $38.3 million • Off-Court: $25 million
Joshua Gateley/Getty Images
Fresh off becoming the 11th player ever to win the NBA MVP and finals MVP Awards in the same season—not to mention leading the league with 32.7 points per game—Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million supermax extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder in July. The contract, for which he represented himself in negotiations after splitting with his agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman, set an NBA record with its average annual value of more than $71 million. The 27-year-old Canadian point guard’s huge year also featured the release of his first signature shoe with Converse, a spot on the cover of the video game NBA 2K26 and a starring role in the second season of Netflix docuseries Starting 5, and he received the key to the city in Hamilton, Ontario, where he grew up. SGA has one other clever way to make some quick extra cash: He told the Canadian interviewer known as Nardwuar that he sells his clothes to teammates in a garage sale at the beginning of each season.
#10. $63.2 million
Age: 30 | Position: Center | Team: Denver Nuggets | On-Court: $55.2 million • Off-Court: $8 million
Jokic didn’t get the three-year, $212 million extension he was eligible for this summer, but that had nothing to do with the Denver Nuggets’ desire to lock up a player who has been named the league MVP in three of the past five seasons and is favored to win the award again by both the oddsmakers at DraftKings and the general managers surveyed by NBA.com. Rather, Jokic chose to table the contract discussion until next summer, when he could sign a four-year deal for $293 million. The 30-year-old Serbian center hasn’t indicated whether he intends to put pen to paper then or to test free agency instead—in either 2027 or 2028, depending on whether he picks up his player option—but he said this month, “My plan is to be a Nugget forever.” Off the court, Jokic works with companies including Chinese shoemaker 361 Degrees, European sportsbook Superbet and memorabilia seller USA Sports Marketing.
METHODOLOGY
The 2025 Forbes ranking of the NBA’s highest-paid players reflects salaries for the 2025-26 season, for contracts signed as of October 20. On-court figures are rounded to the nearest $100,000. Incentives that are based on 2025-26 individual or team performance are not included.
The off-court earnings estimates are determined through conversations with industry insiders and are rounded to the nearest $1 million. The figures reflect annual cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances and memorabilia, as well as cash returns from any businesses in which the athlete has a significant interest. Investment income such as interest payments or dividends is not included, but Forbes does account for payouts from equity stakes athletes have sold. Forbes does not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees.
With additional reporting by Justin Birnbaum.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2025/10/21/the-nbas-highest-paid-players-2025/
