When we talk about sporting disciplines being gold mines for athletes, basketball stands in the highest echelon on that list. Much of the sport’s popularity comes from the United States of America, although it is widely followed in other parts of the globe as well. According to several reports, in 2023, basketball has an estimated global market value of a mind-boggling USD 90 billion. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that players associated with the National Basketball Association (NBA), the premier basketball league in the USA, rank among the richest athletes in the world.
Before we focus on the individual players, however, it is worth noting that the NBA generated more than USD 10 billion in revenue during the 2022-23 season. In fact, every franchise in the league, on average, generated an annual revenue of USD 209 million. The numbers make it clear that the NBA is one of the richest sports in the world.
While the players associated with the NBA have to toil tirelessly to stay ahead of the curve, the sport pays back massive dividends to them. If reports are to be believed, on average, players partaking in the NBA earn an annual salary of USD 3.8 million from their respective teams. There’s more! Since the NBA enjoys widespread popularity, especially in the United States, several multinational companies approach its teams and players with high-paying endorsement deals.
The best thing about these sponsorship deals (for the players) is that they continue to pay the athletes handsomely long after they have retired. Therefore, the net worth of NBA players remains largely unscathed even after they hang up their boots. As such, making a list of the richest NBA players without mentioning any retired players will fail to highlight the importance of the sport in terms of how it pays back to the athletes.
So, join us as we look at the richest NBA players in the world, including players from both the active crop and the retired lot.
1. Michael Jordan
Richest NBA players
Net worth in 2023: USD 3 billion
People who do not have even the remotest idea about what the NBA is are, at the very least, familiar with Michael Jordan. Such is the popularity of the man who is regarded as “the greatest basketball player of all time,” according to his profile on the NBA’s official website. A former American basketball player, Jordan featured in 15 NBA seasons and won six championships with the Chicago Bulls.
A player with a Brobdingnagian stature (both physical and in terms of his achievements), Michael Jordan was instrumental in popularising basketball in the 80s and 90s. Today, he is a successful entrepreneur and a global cultural icon. His most renowned business venture is the ‘Jordan Brand’, a collaboration with American apparel manufacturer Nike which is famous for its line of signature shoes.
According to Forbes, Michael Jordan, in 2023, enjoys a net worth of a staggering USD 3 billion, making him the richest NBA player in the world. He is also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and has won two gold medals at the Olympics representing the USA.
2. LeBron James
Richest NBA players
Net worth in 2023: USD 1 billion
Undoubtedly the most popular active player in the world of basketball, LeBron James falls in the pantheon of greats in the NBA. Fans often engage in debates about who the greatest basketball player of all time is, James or Michael Jordan. James is the leading scorer of all time in NBA history, and ranks fourth in terms of career assists.
Now a player for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James has won four NBA championships (two with the Miami Heat, and one each with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers). At 2.08 metres tall, James towers over the rest of the players in the NBA, both in terms of his height and achievements on the court. He has also won two gold medals (2008 and 2012) and a bronze medal (2004) at the Olympics while representing the USA.
According to a report by Forbes, LeBron James, in 2023, has a net worth of USD 1 billion. He is the first active NBA player to become a billionaire. James also featured in Forbes’ list of The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2023 where he holds the fourth spot.
3. Magic Johnson
Richest NBA players
Net worth in 2023: USD 630 million
Widely regarded as the greatest point guard of all time in the NBA, Earvin Johnson, popularly known as Magic Johnson, is a former American basketball player. He has featured in 13 NBA seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and led them to five championship titles in the ‘Showtime era’ (between 1979 and 1991 when the Lakers used to play a run-and-gun style of basketball).
Magic Johnson’s career achievements include winning three NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, 12 All-Star Games and nine All-MBA First Team selections. In addition, he was a member of the USA basketball team (often referred to as the ‘Dream Team’) that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
According to a report by CAknowledge, Magic Johnson, in 2023, has an estimated net worth of USD 630 million. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
4. Junior Bridgeman
Net worth in 2023: USD 620 million
A former American professional basketball player, Ulysses Lee Bridgeman, famously known as Junior Bridgeman, featured in the NBA for 12 years from 1975 until 1987. Despite not earning more than USD 350,000 a season throughout his professional career, Bridgeman ranks among the richest NBA players in the world and is one of the richest former athletes across all sporting disciplines.
Now a businessman, Junior Bridgeman is the owner of Ebony and Jet magazines. According to reports, the former basketball player, in 2023, enjoys a net worth of around USD 620 million. In 1988, Bridgeman’s NBA outfit, the Milwaukee Bucks, retired his number 2 jersey as a mark of honour.
5. Shaquille O’Neal
Richest NBA players
Picture Credits: Courtesy Instagram/@DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D.
Net worth in 2023: USD 450 million
The gigantic height of Shaquille O’Neal (nearly 2.2 metres) was unmissable, and certainly unforgettable, on the basketball court. As were his prowess and skills. Regarded as one of the best players in the NBA’s history, O’Neal enjoyed a 19-year-long career in the basketball league, during which time he featured for six teams. He has won the coveted NBA championship four times.
Following his retirement in 2011, Shaquille O’Neal joined the television program Inside the NBA as a sports analyst. In addition, he’s also released four rap albums, with the first one, Shaq Diesel, going platinum. He is also an electronic producer and touring DJ with the stage name DIESEL.
