My Site

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

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.

Victor Summers

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

    • 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.

      Reply

  7. 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 $

    Reply

  9. 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

    Reply

  10. 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!!

    Reply

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

    Reply

  16. 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.

    Reply

  18. mcgrady deserves a number one spot coz of he’s popularity and explosiveness.. (i mean when he plays ball not on what he do on the court) a lot of basketball fans hate kobe almost all haha. including me.

    Reply

  19. George, don’t be stupid. What at an athlete gets paid has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of contact the sport has or what someone like you feels about it. The ONLY consideration is the profits of the team. Basketball is very popular, there are 41 home games worth of ticket sales in the regular season and however many playoff games.

    Ticket prices are expensive for popular teams and teams have rosters of around 15 players depending on a team’s injury reserves. So yeah NBA players are going to be high paid. And yeah with the propensity of injury players are going to demand guaranteed contract. So what?

    Each side has to balance risk vs. reward and make certain gambles, that’s what contracts are all about. If the player explodes he can’t back out and the team keeps him but if he destroys himself the team still has to pay him. It’s give and take.

    Baseball players get ridiculous salaries because of the incredible popularity of some teams and the number of home games. If someone is willing to pay T-Mac 23 mil, it doesn’t matter what someone like you thinks about it. So puke away.

    Reply

  20. L. James should not be called the king because he needs help from Shaq to win a championship he should be calling Shaq his king because HE NEEDS HIS HELP TO WIN the people do the right thing by calling him CRY BABY any little bump n he cries like a little girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  21. Shaq just needs to retire. He does not deserve to be making that much money. He does nothing! The only reason he is successful is because of great players like Kobe and Lebron dishing him the ball, also being over 7 feet tall helps quite a bit.

    Reply

  22. Did you know that Michael Jordan was the highest salary for one season in the 96-97 season the bulls paid him $33,450,000.And for Shaq he is getting old that’s why he is getting weaker and weaker like other player…..

    Reply

  30. Eu
    sou fã
    incondicional de
    Tracy Mcgrady3 + sem duvida
    o melhor jogador da NBA depois de
    Jordan é Kobe , ele é que deve ser chamado KING BRYANT nao esiste no momento outro melhor por isso devem pagalo muito mais,e tambem deviam pagar mais a JAMES que vai substituir Kobe no trono te Best players

    Reply

  32. jst glad LeBrone is not on tha list, he spend all his money on tha damn billboards & all that s***
    Tracy you thee man, you just knw the ball

    Reply

  34. lebron makes 15million because he sucks 🙂 kobes the best and ya tracy is garbage wtf 23million?

    Reply

  38. Kobe desserves more !!! After Michael Jordan, Kobe is the best player who can get points in crucial situations. His Buzz beaters are amazing !!! I hope Kobe desserves 300 Million Dollars !!!!

    Reply

  40. the players get paid alot ,sure but we gotta remember things they do off the court as well,commercials ,interviews ,and also helpin in the communities, its in their contracts as well,and lets face it they shud do more coz many of us wont ever make dat type of money ,so every1 of dem shud work their asses off on da court , and they shud donate cash WTF ,coz we da 1’s makin dem popularanyways ,no fans no glory

    Reply

  41. damn were is dwayne wade i think he better than all of those players plus look at his postseason stats its off the charts he is an amazing team player.

    Reply

  42. kobe is the best lebron just runs at the hope trying to get foul and look he got his ass wopped by the celtic lmfao there nobody to stop the laker they will repeat this year a win the nba championship.

    Reply

  44. all the teams that these players are on made it to the playoffs except the one they are paying the most……

    Reply

  46. Dirk is by far the best player in the nba, you cant get a big man who is all around good at everything and makes the impossible shots and leads nearly everything statswise on a team, wow kobe can score, but rebound, not really. Dirk is the best.

    Reply

  47. For me, T-Mac is a lucky man. He get paid 20 million plus without even playing in the playoffs!!!

    Reply

  54. 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

    Reply

  64. 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.:/

    Reply

  69. 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

    Reply

  79. 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

    Reply

  81. 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!!!

    Reply

  84. lebron james runs tha nba he should be no.#1 i still got love 4 kobe hes a beast but lebron is tha best no matter what an i kno he got bread even though he is no on tha list

    Reply

  86. lebron,wade,t-mac, or even who,kobe is not the best.
    kobe is not the best player in nba
    but he is the most perfect player in the nba history,.lol wahahaha
    tubag
    wew
    you liike to reply?? just reply my yahoomail
    [email protected]
    kobe your perfect player we are the same
    wahaha
    weww

    Reply

  88. The pay goes up every year. Thats why when they are at the end of the deal its big money coming of the books. Thats why the Knicks traded for Mcgrady 22 mill off the books for the Lebron chase.

    Reply

  89. kobe deserves to win at least 5 games in a row he is sooo great no one can get his attentoin thats sad really sad . kobe deservs to be a winner and he better be a winner he should deserve to be able to et up there and spend his dream

    Reply

  90. vince carter is d best player ever n d nba..dats y he called half man half amazing..he did a lot dat kobe,lebron,wade and tmac cant do..8 consecutive 3s made in a single game,slamdunk champ etc..hahahaha

    Reply

  97. 1 kobe
    2 dwyane wade
    3 carmelo anothny
    4 joe smith
    5 lebron james
    6 kevin durant
    7 dirk nowitscki
    8 chris paul
    9 tim duncan
    10 adnrea bargnani

    Reply

  112. Your all dicks. Basketball sucks. My stupid boyfriend has spent 40 mins reading this useless shit out load. I’m gonna dump him. He’s so boring. I’d rather watch police academy 4 than listen to his shit. Basketball sucks.

    Reply

  113. Well. Kobe is the best player in the entire league now. He puts forth so much effort and no one even compares anymore. He works so hard and even though there have been unfortunate events going on in his life lately, he still puts forth all the good work on the court. He really tries and therefore he succeeds. Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!

    Reply

  117. I agree with Amy, her boy friend is a dumb ass, and the rest of you are all retarded if you think people deserve this much money for playing a game your fucking stupid. oh and by the way all of these players that you love so much couldnt give a fuck about you, they wouldnt piss on you if you were on fire.

    Reply

  118. No they definately DO NOT deserve to make even close to that much…They should make $50,000 a year and no more than that. All they do is chase a ball aroundlike a bunch of monkeys all night. No contribution what-so-ever to this world and its sad because everyone else has to suffer and they will never have to suffer…messed up country/world..

    Reply

  119. Sound like we have some very angry critics!! Yea NBA players or most professional athletes get paid alot in general! But what are you gonna do about it! Its entertainment just like movies and music..etc…As americans and other countries we eat this shit up..we love to see the next hot thing or the next mj! On top of that MLB, NFL, NBA and other professional organizations and leagues they are all profit. They make a ridiculous amount of money from jerseys, hats, socks, basically anything that uses the logo or a team name. Its just a cycle…and no matter what y’all say they are still gonna make that crazy money because it all comes from YOU the consumer!!!

    Reply

  128. We should not be jealous they surfer in the court to make the fucking money waste a lot of time in the gym trying to get fit they deserve more than that beside they never asked you to come and wash them play you go by your self there by paying the gate fee bitches so you all that are against the money they are been paid should go clean up your asses and get them ready because am coming fuck them for you jobless and poor fools you go get your self a fucking job and keep your bloody self busy and may be make some fucking dollar so you can be able to pay the gate fee to wash the up coming NBA Game because it is a thing you bastards must do weather you like it or not OK now go look for job and make the get fee if a fail to see any of you there in the next game oh God derm it am gonna fly to you various Houses and be kicking your shapeless asses Touts Ok now fuck off

    Reply

  133. Kobe is the best for now.The money issue in the nba shouldn’t be a surpise,they worked hard to get themselves to the lime light,so they need it to keep up with their celebrity status.

    Reply

  145. they asked who gets paid the most not whos the best player.. wow.. and record on kobe should be #1 but tracy been in the game longer.

    Reply

  146. ight yall get this through your head kobe is the best basketball player in this world so get out of yalls own little worlds!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.