New all-time highest paid NBA player Kevin Durant reaches near $1b mark, surpasses LeBron James
Kevin Durant’s two-year $138m AUD extension with the Houston Rockets has elevated him above LeBron James for total career earnings, making him the highest paid NBA player of all-time come the end of his deal.
The 37-year-old was traded from Phoenix to Houston in the off-season, but he wasted no time recommitting to the emerging Western Conference force.
Durant’s career earnings now sit at an eye-watering $911m, passing LeBron’s meagre $896m.
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Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Getty
James, who will turn 41 this season, doesn’t have many more contract extensions left in him, while Durant’s two-year extension takes him to 39 and might also be his last.
Lakers star James has hinted at retirement for years, but has a decision to make at the end of the season.
For context, Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s all-time career earnings sit at $145m. Naturally the bulk of his $4.5b net worth comes from off-court endeavours.
Sitting third all-time is Golden State guard Stephen Curry at $819m, while Phoenix’s Devin Booker jumps to fourth, thanks to a two-year $223m extension in the off-season. Yes, he will be earning over $100m per season in 2028 and 2029.
And that is the direction the NBA is heading. These numbers are hitting new heights every year, thanks to the 50-50 split in revenue sharing with the league.
Couple that with the NBA’s super max contract concept, which allows eligible players to sign deals worth 35 per cent of the salary cap, and you end up with some astronomical figures over five-year contracts.
If that remains unchanged, an ESPN projection suggests players who receive a super max contract could earn $157m per season – more than Jordan’s entire career earnings for about 60 games of basketball.
Steph Curry in 2025. Getty
Top 10 NBA career earnings, including future confirmed contracts (as of October 22, 2025):
1. Kevin Durant – $911m
2. LeBron James – $896m
3. Steph Curry – $819m
4. Devin Booker – $801m
5. Paul George – $795m
6. Anthony Davis – $787m
7. Joel Embiid – $784m
8. Damian Lillard – $742m
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – $722m
10. Jayson Tatum – $722m
AUSTRALIA’S HIGHEST EARNERS
As for the Aussies, Ben Simmons sits No.1 all-time, having been the only Australian to ever sign a max contract. Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels however have jumped onto the podium over the off-season after both signed $154m contract extensions.
Both are young and only in the first parts of their careers and will have the potential to sign at least one more mammoth contract, if everything goes right for them, meaning they could dethrone Simmons.
Some of our all-time greats feature in the top 10, including Patty Mills, Andrew Bogut, Joe Ingles and Luc Longley.
Ben Simmons of the LA Clippers in the 2024-2025 season. Getty
Top 10 Australian NBA career earnings, including future confirmed contracts (as of October 22, 2025):
1. Ben Simmons – $305m
2. Josh Giddey – $191m
3. Dyson Daniels – $187m
4. Andrew Bogut – $175m
5. Joe Ingles – $137m
6. Patty Mills – $128m
7. Josh Green – $82m
8. Dante Exum – $81m
9. Matthew Dellavedova – $67m
10. Luc Longley – $64m
