Neither Curry nor Doncic: this is the NBA player who earns the most money per game

The NBA’s economic boom has lasted more than a decade, fueling massive global expansion that now reaches every corner of the planet. The league’s dominance – built on contracts spanning all five continents – has driven player salaries to historic heights, especially for its biggest stars.

Big bucks for NBA stars

To put it in perspective: Stephen Curry will earn over $55 million this season. He’s one of five players making more than $50 million, alongside Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. The entire top 20 earns at least $40 million, and even at 40 years old, LeBron James ranks 14th with nearly $49 million – something that would have been unthinkable years ago. These figures have turned many players into multimillionaires, flooding their bank accounts with more money than ever.

However, not every star is fairly compensated for their performance. It’s a subjective debate, but one that always fuels NBA narratives. And then there are players who have earned fortunes while barely playing.

That’s why HoopsHype broke down earnings per game played to determine which players have made the most per night on the court.

The results? Zion Williamson tops the list, having played just 213 games in six seasons, yet already earning more than $115 million. That means he has pocketed $545,000 per game—more than half a million just for stepping onto the court. It’s no surprise, given his injury-plagued career, but the numbers remain staggering.

The top 10 NBA highest-paid per game

Williamson isn’t alone. The rest of the top 10 follows a similar pattern – players with high salaries who have spent significant time injured.

Joel Embiid ranks second, followed by Ben Simmons in third. Then come Kristaps Porziņģis, John Wall, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Brandon Ingram.

At number 11 sits Stephen Curry, though in his case, his position is driven more by his career earnings ($413 million and counting) rather than missed games - though injuries have played a role at times.

The full top 50 list, released by HoopsHype, puts a spotlight on how much money some players have earned per game. Eye-watering for us mere mortals.

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