The NBA salary cap limit is skyrocketing, and lots of players are cashing in big. LeBron James has earned his way to become the NBA's highest-paid player this season, but he's not the only one whose bank account is growing. Here are the top 25 players in the league, based on what they're earning this season.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
#22(t): Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets – $21.2 million, Total Contract: 3 years/$63.5 million
Lopez is the anchor for the Nets' defense under the basket, but he's been plagued by injury so far in his career. Hopefully, for his sake and the team's, he'll be able to stay on the court.
(Getty Images)
#22(t): DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers – $21.2 million, Total Contract: 4 years/$87.6 million
Speaking of rim protectors, he's one of the best. If only he could learn to make a free throw…
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
#22(t): Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies – $21.2 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$113.2 million
Gasol was up for grabs in the summer of 2015, and he certainly garnered attention around the league. But I guess he just likes Memphis… and the enormous contract the Grizzlies gave him.
(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
#22(t): Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers – $21.2 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$113.2 million
LeBron isn't the only one raking it in up north. Love was instrumental in helping LeBron take the Cavs all the way to a title last season.
(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
#21: Derrick Rose, New York Knicks – $21.3 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$94.3 million
Rose is a huge part of discussions that regard the Knicks as a potential "super-team," but with a 12-9 start they don't look that super. He's going to have to prove his skill, because he'll be in the market for a big deal come summer.
(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
#15(t): Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks – $22.1 million, Total Contract: 4 years/$94.4 million
When Durant went to Golden State, the Mavs started salivating. They swooped in and offered Barnes a max deal. So far this season? Let's just say they have some work to do.
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
#15(t): Chandler Parsons, Memphis Grizzlies – $22.1 million, Total Contract: 4 years/$94.4 million
Parsons came over from Dallas in the off-season. Memphis likes him as an athletic forward to complement Gasol's dominant play underneath.
(Getty Images)
#15(t): Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat – $22.1 million, Total Contract: 4 years/$98.4 million
In late 2014, Whiteside was working out at the YMCA waiting for a shot. Now he's one of the highest-paid stars in the league. Yikes.
(Getty Images)
#15(t): Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards – $22.1 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$127.2 million
Beal is constantly dueling with fellow Wizard John Wall on the court, but it's Beal that comes out on top of the salary battle.
(Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
#15(t): Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans – $22.1 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$127.2 million
Davis was a minor disappointment last season, but that didn't stop him from signing this crazy deal in the off-season. Gee, that must be nice.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
#15(t): Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons – $22.1 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$127.2 million
This deal is $47 million bigger than any other Piston contract…ever. No pressure, big man.
(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
#14: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers – $22.9 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$107.3 million
If the Clippers can stay healthy, they could definitely go all the way. Paul is one of the best ever at his position, and is instrumental to their success.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
#12(t): Dwight Howard, Atlanta Hawks – $23.2 million, Total Contract: 3 years/$70.5 million
One of the best rebounders and dunkers of all time, Howard chose to jet Houston this past summer and hang out in Atlanta for a while.
(Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
#12(t): Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls – $23.2 million, Total Contract: 2 years/$47 million
Is that D-Wade in a Bulls jersey? Yes, yes it is. So far this season, the Bulls look pretty, uh, mediocre.
(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
#11: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat – $23.7 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$118.7 million
Bosh isn't playing this season due to blood clots, and soon he won't be a member of the Heat. But for now, at least he's still making huge money!
(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
#10: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers – $24.3 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$139.9 million
The Blazers are struggling a bit, but it's not for lack of talent in the back court. Lillard's contract is the second biggest ever in the league.
(Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
#9: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks – $24.6 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$124.1 million
Anthony has the team he needs to make some noise, but so far this not-so-super team is falling well short of expectation.
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
#8: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks – $25 million, Total Contract: 2 years/$50 million
Are the Mavs even still a team? Oh, there they are, down at the bottom of the standings. Barnes and Nowitzki have a lot of work to do to earn the crazy money they're making this season.
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
#2(t): Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors – $26.5 million, Total Contract: 2 years/$54.3 million
Should we just hand them the trophy now? With arguably the best scorer in the league in the mix, LeBron will have his hands full knocking this team off again.
(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
#2(t): Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder – $26.5 million, Total Contract: 3 years/$85.6 million
With Durant gone, the Thunder were forced to take drastic action to keep Westbrook on board. This is his chance to show what he can do without his superstar teammate. So far, the Thunder are sitting in 6th in the West.
(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
#2(t): Al Horford, Boston Celtics – $26.5 million, Total Contract: 4 years/$113.3 million
Let's see…NBA's top stars: Durant, James, Curry, Horford… wait, what? Horford is a great center in the league, and the top player in Boston. But this contract? Sheesh.
(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
#2(t): James Harden, Houston Rockets – $26.5 million, Total Contract: 4 years/$118 million
Known for his killer beard, his electric offensive play, and his incredibly lazy defense, Harden scored this huge contract. He also recently signed a $200 million deal with Adidas.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
#2(t): DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors – $26.5 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$139 million
This guy is one of the best scorers in the league this season, and so far he's taken the Raptors to second place in the Eastern Conference.
(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
#2(t): Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies – $26.5 million, Total Contract: 5 years/$152.6 million
This is the largest contract in the history of the NBA… until next year. He's the third member of the Grizzlies on this list. We certainly can't say they're not trying!
(Getty Images)
#1: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers – $31 million, Total Contract: 3 years/$99.9 million
Simply put: he's the king.
