The NBA’s Top Ten Highest Player Salaries for 2009-2010

Posted on 01. Oct, 2009 by Vic in Basketball

The 2009-2010 season will begin on the 27th of October, just less than four weeks from now. We take a look at the top ten paid players in the league going into the season – deserving and overpaid.

Number 10 – Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks – 17,040,000 Dollars

Michael ReddImage: Source

Hasn’t scored less than 21.5 points per game in the last six seasons, but also hasn’t led his team into the playoffs in the last three and hasn’t played more than 72 games since 2005-2006, his and the Bucks’ last playoff appearance. True he is their best player and go to guy… but does he deserve 17 Mil a year?

Number 9 – Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic – 18,876,000 Dollars

Rashard LewisImage: Source

Although he won’t play for the first ten games of the 2009-2010 season due to a failed drug test, he still is the highest paid player on the team with the 5th highest payroll in the league. Lewis signed a 118 million dollars for six years contract two years ago an has been a crucial part of the Orlando Magic playoff runs in the last two seasons. He scores less than he did with the SuperSonics, but he wins much more.

Number 8 – Ray Allen, Boston Celtics – 19,766,860 Dollars

Ray AllenImage: Source

One of three Boston Celtics players in the top 13 highest paid players (Kevin Garnett is 13th with 15 million dollars), making the C’s payroll the third highest in the league. Improved his numbers last season from his first (title winning) season with the Celtics, but he’s undeniably past his prime.

Number 7  – Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics – 19,795,712 Dollars

Paul PierceImage: Source

The highest paid player out of the Celtics “Big Three”, Pierce won the 2008 Finals MVP as the Celtics won their 17th title and first since 1986. He’ll begin his 12th season with the Boston Celtics in 2009-2010 and he is currently the third highest scorer in the Franchises’ history, behind Larry Bird and John Havlicek.

Number 6 – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks – 19,795,714 Dollars

Dirk NowitzkiImage: Source

The highest paid non-American in the NBA is also probably the best ever European in the NBA. Nowitzki won the MVP back in 2007 and after 11 seasons with the team (and counting), Nowitzki leads the Mavericks’ franchise in most statistical categories, including points and rebounds.

Number 5 – Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland Cavaliers – 20,000,000 Dollars

Shaquille O'NealImage: Source

Shaq is starting his 18th NBA season in 2009-2010 with his third team in three years, attempting to get his fifth NBA title and maybe being that missing piece in the puzzle so Lebron can get his first.

Number 4 – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs – 22,183,218 Dollars

Tim DuncanImage: Source

Like Shaq, Duncan is another big man looking for a fifth NBA Championship ring, with the opportunity window slowly closing. Like Shaq, Duncan is very dependant on the players around him, especially on their ability to stay healthy during the season (Are you listening Ginobili?), and staying healthy themselves.

Number 3 – Jermaine O’Neal, Miami Heat – 22,995,000 Dollars

Jermaine O'NealImage: Source

What?!!!! Jermaine O’Neal? Yes, you read it correctly. Someone is paying O’Neal, who hasn’t reached 70 games a season since 2003-2004 and has averaged 13.5 points per game in the last two seasons, almost 23 million dollars.

Number 2 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers – 23,034,375 Dollars

Kobe BryantImage: Source

It’ll be interesting to see if Kobe Bryant, now that he’s finally won a Shaq-less title, will be affected from taking that baggage off of him. Will it make him looser, calmer? Maybe it’ll harm his game… The Lakers will make another run at a title this season and Kobe’s fire and drive need to be there.

Number 1 – Tracy McGrady – 23,329,561 Dollars

Tracy McGradyImage: Source

Wasted potential always makes basketball fans angry, and McGrady is a poster child for wasted potential. Twelve NBA seasons, only 784 games, seven playoff appearances, never passed the first round. He played only 35 games last season and his future with the Rockets and in the NBA is very unclear with his huge contract ending after the 2009-2010 season.

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19 Responses to “The NBA’s Top Ten Highest Player Salaries for 2009-2010”

  1. AK

    02. Oct, 2009

    Where’s Lebron? Well, I’ll guess he’ll be on top of the list come October 2010…

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    02. Oct, 2009

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  3. gerakis100

    02. Oct, 2009

    Lebron is 19th in the league right now, getting 15.8 million a year. He’ll probably get 20+ next year after his contract expires, but this financial crisis fallout is far from over. It’s going to be felt this year, especially with tickets sales and who knows how it will make the 2010-11 season look.

  4. Top Five Shooting Guards in the NBA, Going into 2009-2010 | Sportige

    07. Oct, 2009

    [...] featured in our Highest Paid Players post, Redd is also a very good player, despite being a tad overpaid in my opinion. Redd has averaged [...]

  5. John

    22. Oct, 2009

    I happen to know for a fact that Kevin Garnett makes over $24 Million

  6. e cigarette

    29. Oct, 2009

    Holy cow. That is a lot of money!

  7. uberVU - social comments

    29. Oct, 2009

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gerakis100: The top ten best paid players in the NBA, going into the 2009-2010 season.
    http://bit.ly/kd7La…

  8. Syrym

    01. Nov, 2009

    yeah , so do I , what happened to KG who makes at least 20 million.
    it’s a lot of money even # 10 Redd with his 17 million $

  9. bobbyjo

    07. Jan, 2010

    Do T-mac get 23+million a year or is KG the highest

  10. gerakis100

    07. Jan, 2010

    From what we know, KG makes about 16.5 million a year, so no, his isn’t the highest

  11. Ballerfr0m the 818

    13. Jan, 2010

    thats kinda stupid kobe should be number one for what he does not stupid ass tracy mcrady not even playing the game whiel kobe is busting his clutch shots

  12. Gary

    20. Jan, 2010

    Shaq makes $20 million a year??? WOW!!! He can’t make a free throw or a 20 foot jump shot to save his life. All he can do is dunk and occationally block a shot. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! His contract needs to be burned!!

  13. Nate

    21. Jan, 2010

    According to ESPN, McGrady “only” makes $22,843,124 and Garnette makes $16,417,044.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=hou&sort=null

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=bos&sort=null

    Says Lebron is making $15,779,912 and Shaq’s making $21,000,000.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=cle&sort=null

    Wow!

  14. alyssa

    27. Jan, 2010

    I can’t believe that kobe bryant has over $20 million dollars?Thats so awesome?

  15. ashlee

    27. Jan, 2010

    i can’t even believe that Tracy McGrady has $23 million dollars?He only played 35 games last season?That’s so cheap?

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  17. michael cantos

    07. Feb, 2010

    nice..t-mac always has a highest paid in nba history because he is a superstar like kobe. we love t-mac.

  18. george

    07. Feb, 2010

    NBA players are the epitome of overpaid primodonas. …especially considering the contracts are “guaranteed” Of the 4 major sports they should be the lowest paid, just below baseball. the 2 least physical sports (contact wise) yet they are the highest paid.. when I see a guy like TMac getting that kind of money and for what. I feel like puking. same for jermaine o’neil. whats he ever done?.I remember TMac getting poked in his eye during a game and had to be “carried” off the court!! aahhhh, forgive me, I’m just hatin’ right now.

  19. Elvin

    09. Feb, 2010

    Kobe should get paid 50,000,000 dollars , cuz there will never be a better basketball player than him!!…

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