These are the highest paid NBA players for the 2022-23 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Russell Westbrook cap off a big payday for next season.
The Los Angeles Lakers point guard reportedly planning to pick up its $47.06 million player option for the 2022-23 season.
It would have been an absolute blast if Westbrook turned down the option to rely on free agency, as he probably couldn’t get anything close to that huge salary figure in the open market. The nine-time All-Star, who turns 34 in November, is coming off the worst season of his 14-year career.
So as Westbrook plays into the final season of the five-year, $206.8 million supermax deal he signed with the… Oklahoma City Thunder Where is he among the NBA’s highest-paid players for 2022-23 in 2017?
Who are the highest paid NBA players?
Westbrook is not only the highest paid Laker of both, LeBron James and Anthony Davis for next season, but he’s also nearly the highest-paid player in the whole league.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is the only player to have earned a higher base salary than Westbrook in 2022-23 at $48.07 million. However, if James Harden is exercising its $47.3 million player option with the Philadelphia 76ershe would take second place from Westbrook.
The second highest salary slot was taken by John Wall until he took a buyout from the Houston Rockets that saw him hand over $6.5 million. Wall now ranks 10th in the NBA with $40.8 million, although he will reach that total when he signs with a new team, which is expected to top the list. Los Angeles Clippers†
Westbrook is one spot ahead of teammate LeBron James, who will earn $44.4 million next season. Like Westbrook, James is entering the final year of his contract.
Two of Westbrook’s former teammates are right behind James, with Kevin Durant ($42.9 million) in the fourth and Paul George ($42.4 million) in fifth place. But it doesn’t take long for George to make the top five.
if Bradley Beal declines his $36.4 million player option, he will be eligible for a $248 million five-year deal from the Washington Wizards in the coming free trade period. That gargantuan contract would have a starting salary of $42.7 million and put Beal in fifth place, ahead of George.
Ahead of the free agency, here’s a look at the 30 highest paid players by base salary for next season, according to Spotrac†
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: $48,070,014
2. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers: $47,063,478
3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers: $44,474,988
4. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets: $42,969,845
5. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers: $42,492,568
T-6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: $42,492,492
T-6. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: $42,492,492
T-6. Kawhi LeonardLos Angeles Clippers: $42,492,492
9. John Wall, Free Agent (of Houston Rockets): $40,866,760
10. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors: $40,600,080
11. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz: $38,172,414
12. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: $37,980,720
13. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks: $37,948,276
14. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat: $37,653,300
15. Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers: $37,633,050
T-16. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks: $36.6 million
T-16. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks: $36.6 million
18. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets: $36,503,300
T-19. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors: $35,448,672
T-19. Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets: $35,448,672
T-21. Kristaps Porzingis, Washington Wizards: $33,833,400
T-21. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $33,833,400
T-21. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $33,833,400
T-24. Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors: $33,616,770
T-24. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: $33,616,770
26. CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans: $33,333,333
27. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks: $32,544,000
28. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $32,478,838
T-29. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans: $31,650,600
T-29. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets: $31,650,600