Playing in the National Basketball Association pays well. According to Statista.com, NBA players are the highest-paid athletes in the world on average. For the 2021-2022 NBA season, the average salary is $7.3 million. The top ten highest NBA salaries for the 2021-2022 season are all above $39 million, including superstars Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets, and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

But, honestly, who brings home the biggest bag?
That, of course, depends on how you slice it. If we’re talking about who is paid the most by an NBA team, who is the highest-paid? Then there’s Curry, who, by most accounts, headed the bunch after signing a lucrative four-year, $215 million deal with the Warriors in August. According to Forbes, James is the best in the world when it comes to off-court business.
The top ten highest-paid NBA players are listed below based on their average annual value, which is determined by dividing a player’s contract by the number of years remaining on the contract. Only Curry and Philadelphia centre Joel Embiid are ahead of him on the list, according to this calculation. Embiid signed a four-year, almost $196 million contract with the 76ers in August.

Highest-paid NBA players by AAV (average annual value):
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; $53.8 million— $215.3 million over four years
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers; $48.9 million— $195.9 million over four years
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat; $48.7 million— $146.3 million over three years
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets; $48.5 million— $194.2 million over four years
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; $45.6 million— $228.2 million over five years
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers; $44 million— $176.2 million over four years
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers; $44 million— $176.2 million over four years
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers; $44 million— $176.2 million over four years
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; $42.8 million— $85.6 million over two years
James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers; $42.7 million— $171.1 million over four years

Source- usatoday