30 richest players in the NBA
By John Buhler
LeBron James
Small Forward, Cleveland Cavaliers
Though he has not made the most career earnings of any active player, one can easily project that Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James will one day reach that distinction. At 32 years old and still very much in his prime, James has made $200,607,292 in career earnings.
James was the No. 1 overall pick in the famous 2003 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers. He signed with his hometown team for $12.9 million on a three-year deal. Cleveland would exercise its team option on James for the 2006-07 NBA season, costing them $5.8 million. In July 2006, James should sign a four-year $60.4 million rookie scale extension.
He would play that deal out, then something called The Decision happened. In a sign-and-trade, James would ink a six-year, $110 million contract to play for the Miami Heat. James would reach the NBA Finals all four years he was in Miami, winning two NBA titles.
In summer 2014, James would opt out of his final two years with the Heat to come home and play for the Cavaliers again. James would sign a two-year deal with Cleveland worth $42.2 million with a player option for 2015-16. After one year, James would opt out of that contract with the Cavaliers.
James would cash in and sign a three-year, $100 million extension with the Cavaliers. The first two years of the deal he signed this summer a fully guaranteed. He has a player option for 2018-19, but will in all likelihood opt out. Should James play out the last two years of his current deal with the Cavaliers, he would stand to make roughly $269,500,969 in career earnings before his mid-30s.
James has already made over $200 million in career earnings and will make close to $250 before he hits free agency again. Should he play until his late 30s, James will easily eclipse $300 million in career earnings before he exits his prime.