The NBA is the most watched sports league in the world. Its players, both past and present, are global superstars. Thanks to their huge player salaries and lucrative business deals, many of them have also become incredibly wealthy. Let’s take a look at the 10 richest NBA players with Ph365.
Richest NBA players
Kevin Durant – net asset $300 million
As one of the NBA’s top scorers, Kevin Durant is also among the highest-paid athletes in the league. Insiders report that Durant has earned more than $300 million, making him the third highest-paid NBA player of all time.
Now playing for the Phoenix Suns, Durant is looking for his next NBA championship since leaving the Golden State Warriors in 2019. It’s been a tough few years for Durant’s former team, the Brooklyn Nets, who have struggled to make an impact in the playoffs.
Off the court, Durant’s success has been more consistent. He earns millions of dollars each year through investments with his company, 35 Ventures. He’s also secured endorsement deals with Coinbase, NBA Top Shot, and Weedmaps.
Grant Hill – net asset $300 million
Earning over $100 million during his basketball career set Grant Hill up for success when he retired in 2013. Taking advice from his former NFL player father, Hill made sure not to squander his earnings and turned his fortune into a real estate empire.
Today, his company, Hill Ventures, has developed more than $200 million worth of projects.
In addition to real estate, Hill is also a co-owner of the NBA franchise The Atlanta Hawks. He also owns a large portfolio of artwork created by Black artists.
Hill even hosts a three-year, seven-day tour of the city to showcase his personal art collection in hopes of inspiring other Black Americans.
After being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, Hill signed a lifetime deal with shoe brand Fila to recreate his line of shoes that first debuted in the 1990s.
Hakeem Olajuwon – net asset $300 million
Another former NBA star who has turned to property is center Hakeem Olajuwon. During his career, Olajuwon won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets. He was also the first non-American to win the MVP award.
In the later years of his career, Olajuwon began investing in real estate, an important step because his faith forbade him from taking out loans.
Today, his portfolio is large and diverse. A fact he partly attributes to the home-court advantage he gained by closing deals in Houston.
Kobe Bryant – net asset $600 million
At the time of his death in January 2020, Kobe Bryant was worth an estimated $600 million.
During his incredible career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant won five NBA championship rings and earned $680 million through salary and endorsements.
Having entered the NBA straight out of high school, Bryant wasted no time in making money. His first sneaker deal was a six-year deal with Adidas worth $48 million.
Of course, Bryant will always be remembered as a Nike athlete, and his signature Kobe sneakers are some of the most beloved shoes in the NBA.
Bryant also founded Granity Studios; a multimedia content company that won an Academy Award for its animated short film “Dear Basketball.”
The Bryant empire continues to thrive despite Kobe’s untimely death. The family and Nike renewed their deal in 2022, meaning Bryant’s popular shoe line will continue to be available to badminton players around the world.
LeBron James – net asset $1 billion
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer comes in second on our list. But he’s actually the most active NBA player.
James is a well-known figure in the sports world and one of the most famous athletes ever. Now with the Los Angeles Lakers, James has won championships for every team he has played for. His legacy is unparalleled in the modern game.
Like Kobe Bryant, James entered the NBA straight out of high school. Fast forward to 2022, when James signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers. This made James the highest-paid player in NBA history.
Michael Jordan – net asset $3 billion
A six-time NBA champion, he tops W88’s list of richest NBA players of all time. One of the most marketed athletes of all time, Jordan was the global face of the NBA from 1984 until his final retirement in 2003.