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

  1. omeng

    12. Jun, 2010

    kobe is great and t mac.. he deserve it.. becouz ther team will always go in finals.. ok..

  2. aboy

    18. Jun, 2010

    redd? holy crap. :|

  3. rene

    18. Jun, 2010

    kobe and shaq deserve it + dirk.

  4. girl

    19. Jun, 2010

    i dont thinkk shaq is that good to be makin that muchh

  5. talimm

    20. Jun, 2010

    i cant believe it!mc grady is the # 1 highest paid than kobe bryant!

  6. Christian

    20. Jun, 2010

    I honestly hate the guy who wrote this. He has something negative to say about each player and yet he is not getting payed close to what the NBA is paying

  7. Max Furniture

    21. Jun, 2010

    I can’t even believe that Tracy McGrady has $23 million dollars? He played only 35 games last season. I think kobe Bryant should be on #1.

  8. young bye bye

    24. Jun, 2010

    ray all should be in the single digit category…..he is the best shooter in the NBA.

  9. rocky

    26. Jun, 2010

    kobe kobe kobe kobe kobe #1

  10. dan

    27. Jun, 2010

    where is lebron

  11. Pete

    28. Jun, 2010

    Jermaine O’neal’s 22.9m ?????…..should be Wade’s.

    Hope to see LBJ on the list next month…..

  12. montek

    29. Jun, 2010

    nice salaries for nice players

  13. nel

    29. Jun, 2010

    kobe should be number 1,tmac i don’t believe it

  14. nel

    29. Jun, 2010

    in ESPN,kobe-$23,034,375 Jermaine O’Neal-$23,016,000
    Tmac-22,843,124

  15. Tray Brown

    30. Jun, 2010

    Kobe will be number one eventually

  16. robert fernando

    03. Jul, 2010

    i don’t think mc grady deserves it, in the first place he never won championship since he’s started his career in NBA, he was not able to proved himself.:/

  17. David

    05. Jul, 2010

    Kobe # 1

  18. "lupin"

    06. Jul, 2010

    i wanna be one of them! bcoz i can do what they can do.!@#$%^&*()_+…….oh yeh baby………

  19. adams

    06. Jul, 2010

    kobe is #1 tmac#10……thats the true ranking

  20. Leg

    07. Jul, 2010

    And where’s LeBron and Wade in this list? how do they make their money?

  21. luis

    09. Jul, 2010

    are yuh guyz kidding me u guyz have to read more carefully cuz this was last updated on 2008 cuz derez no way that t-mac getz paid more than kobe or lebron……they are the top two

  22. chris

    09. Jul, 2010

    kobe is #1 he makes 30 million a year.

  23. andru

    11. Jul, 2010

    its all cool thou shaq need to take a pay cut to 300,000

  24. I am just amazed to see their salary of p.a..dude that’s a huge amount!!

  25. Dofai

    19. Jul, 2010

    think i should be number 1

  26. JOHN

    21. Jul, 2010

    TMAC DESERVES NO.1.. HES THE BEST PLAYERS ALTHOUGH HES INJURED..

  27. 24kobelakersgirl

    24. Jul, 2010

    KOBE BRYANT DESERVES NO.1 NOT TMAC BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT KOBE BRYANT IS NO.1 AND HES THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLS FOREVER!!!

  28. 24kobelakersgirl

    24. Jul, 2010

    AND HE DOES MAKE OVER 30 MILLION A YEAR!! :)

  29. lebron j

    26. Jul, 2010

    whast about lebron he is worth over 200 million dollar

  30. lawrence

    27. Jul, 2010

    KOBE is the best nba player. kobe is number 1.. lol.. tmac.. is cheap.hmm

  31. teia

    27. Jul, 2010

    i love kobe he is the best he is m idol i want to be just like him when i get older love you kobe lebron is trash he aint even on the roster hahahaha

  32. halfman half amazing

    28. Jul, 2010

    vinsanity and superman should be there

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