• The highly anticipated 2024/25 NBA season will start this month and will bring many interesting stories
• Stephen Curry remains the highest-paid NBA player, but several stars like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are catching up
• Over the summer, Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history

After an eventful summer, the 79th NBA season begins.

The Boston Celtics are still the favorites to retain the title, and their top players have switched teams for a variety of reasons.

Many players will earn tens of millions of dollars, and Golden State Warriors veteran Stephen Curry will top the rankings for an eighth consecutive season.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum currently has the richest contract in the NBA, signing a supermax deal worth $314 million over five years. He overtook teammate Jaylen Brown, who signed a huge contract in the summer of 2023.

Despite this, none of them will be the highest-paid player in the upcoming NBA season. Rising stars like Luka Doncic and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander will soon become the highest-paid players, with the salary cap increasing year over year. Here are the five highest-paid players.

Top 5 highest-paid NBA players

5. Jaylen Brown and Devin Booker

Last season’s Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, once owned the NBA’s richest contract, but was overtaken by teammate Jason Tatum. Brown and Suns guard Devin Booker will earn $49,205,800.

New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, Los Angeles Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard and former teammate Paul George will also earn $49,205,800.

4. Bradley Beal

The Suns defenseman had trouble replicating the Washington Wizards’ form in Phoenix. He averaged 18 points last season and is now entering his 13th season. In the 2024/25 season, it will earn $50,203,930. Beal, Durant and Devin Booker will be looking to win the title next season.

3. Kevin Durant – Phoenix Suns

The 36-year-old Suns veteran is one of the best players of all time. Although he has struggled with injuries in recent years, he earns a lot of money. The two-time NBA champion will earn $51,179,021 next season and will try to win his third ring.

2. Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid overcame injuries early in his career and is now one of the best players in the NBA. Last month, the Cameroonian center signed a three-year, $192.9 million contract extension that will run through the 2028/29 season. He will earn $51,415,938 next season. Embiid and the Sixers will look to make another bid for the NAB title after adding Paul George to the lineup.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic won his third MVP trophy last season but failed to defend his NBA title. He will earn the same as his MVP rival.

1. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

Curry is entering his 16th season in the NBA and will look to make his performance better than last season, when he missed the playoffs. Last month, he signed a one-year extension worth $63 million, which means his current deal expires in the 2026-27 season, according to the AP.

The four-time NBA champion will be the highest-paid player next season with a staggering sum of $55,761,216. Curry became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2021, and according to ESPN, he could score 4,000 points in the upcoming season.

Data courtesy of Spotrac.

Steph Curry on Messi comparisons

Briefly News also reported that Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has weighed in on comparisons between him and Argentine legend Lionel Messi.

The NBA sharpshooter sees similarities with Messi in terms of influence and innovation in his games.

Source: TUKO.co.ke