The Olympics are fantastic for several reasons. We get to see terrific stories of athletes winning the first-ever medals for their nation, like Julien Alfred of St. Lucia and Thea LaFond of Dominica. We learn about the ins and outs of the host nation. We discover the rules of sports we may not have ever known before.
And, of course, we get to see the best athletes in the world competing at the highest level. That's been apparent on the basketball court, where we've had tons of NBA talent participating across nations. It's culminating with the United States facing France for the gold medal.
The French are represented by five current NBA players, including Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and Bilal Coulibaly. Evan Fournier is currently a free agent but was on an NBA roster last season.
Team USA's 12 players are all NBA stars. And they're also among the highest-paid in the league. Collectively, the players on the Team USA men's basketball roster will make $503,631,169 in salary. Yep, these 12 guys will earn more than half a billion dollars in the upcoming season.
Here's a breakdown of each player and what they'll make.
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Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors — $55,761,217
For much of the Olympics, people were wondering when Steph Curry would start regularly hitting shots. It took until the semifinals, but Chef Curry cooked—and it was impressive. He scored 36 points, including 9-of-14 on threes, and was the main reason Team USA was able to squeak by Serbia en route to the final. This upcoming season, he'll be the highest-paid player in the NBA.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers — $51,415,938
Joel Embiid was greeted with boos from the French crowd every time he touched the ball. He earned his French citizenship but opted to play for the United States. If any player would welcome being a villain, Embiid is that guy. He had some inconsistencies but hit a few key shots during the Olympics.
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns — $51,179,020
Kevin Durant became Team USA's all-time leading scorer in this Olympics run. He went 8-for-9 during a shooting clinic in the first game and seemed openly upset when he finally missed a three-pointer in the next game. He won a pair of championships with the Golden State Warriors but has had less success in subsequent stops in Brooklyn and Phoenix. However, he's still the second-highest earner in NBA history, behind only LeBron James.
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns — $49,205,800
Devin Booker was perhaps the most unheralded player on all of Team USA. He was a consistent scorer in most games and put solid defensive pressure on opposing players. Booker is making slightly less than Bradley Beal, the third member of the Suns' big three. Together, the group will cost about $150 million next season.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers — $48,728,845
LeBron James was the floor general for Team USA, and when the team needed a big bucket down the stretch, he delivered. He's also well on his way to becoming a billionaire thanks to his NBA-record career earnings and many endorsement deals, including a lifetime contract with Nike. He's won four NBA titles and is the league's all-time leading scorer—and he's not done yet.
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers — $43,219,440
When he didn't have to battle Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis was a defensive stalwart for Team USA. The Lakers big man has been a critical element for the franchise alongside James. We keep thinking James will eventually retire and Davis will be the centerpiece, but for now, they'll continue to be a dynamic duo. Davis is on a five-year deal; when it expires, his three-year, $186 million extension will kick in, paying him a whopping $62 million per season.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers — $42,176,400
Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers had a surprising postseason, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals as the No. 6 seed. Haliburton ultimately missed most of the conference finals with an injury, but there's reason for optimism in Indiana. Haliburton primarily stayed on the bench with the Olympic team, but don't feel too bad for him. He still inked a five-year, $260 million extension before the 2023-24 season.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves — $42,176,400
Anthony Edwards was one of the viral stars of the Olympics, thanks to his fascination with table tennis star Lily Zhang. While he didn't participate in a ping-pong challenge, he had a generally solid Olympics, wowing crowds with his athletic dunks and violent blocks. He's also shaping up to be one of the faces of the NBA's next generation. He also agreed to a five-year, $260 million extension before last season.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics — $34,848,340
Jayson Tatum signed the largest contract in NBA history this summer (five years, $314 million), but that deal doesn't kick in until the following season. This upcoming year, he's actually one of the lowest-paid players on the USA roster. He was a healthy scratch from multiple games, despite being a key contributor to the Tokyo Olympics team. At least he's getting some rest, since he had to play all the way into June to win his first NBA championship.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat — $34,848,340
Three seasons ago, Bam Adebayo signed the same deal as Tatum, a max extension at the time. This offseason, like Tatum, Adebayo signed another deal, but this one isn't quite as large as his Eastern Conference rival. Adebayo's new extension is worth $166 million over three seasons, but it won't start until his current one ends after the 2025-26 season. He's been a key component to the Miami Heat's success, and despite limited offensive production, he served as a nice backline of defense for Team USA.
Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics — $30,000,000
Jrue Holiday has been a lockdown presence in the league for years and still has one of the coldest passes in NBA Finals history. He brought that same defensive intensity for Team USA, even though he missed an early game with an ankle injury. After the Bucks traded him as part of the Damian Lillard deal, he ended up in Boston and won his second championship in four seasons. He agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension shortly before the playoffs.
Derrick White, Boston Celtics — $20,071,429
White is the lowest-paid player on Team USA, but he almost wasn't on the roster at all. He came over as an injury replacement for Kawhi Leonard. He was a strong defensive presence for the team's second unit, and he did some of the dirty work that Celtics fans were accustomed to during the season. In the NBA, White won his first championship a year and a half after being traded from the San Antonio Spurs. Last month, White inked a four-year, $126 million extension.
