Table of Contents
The skills basketball players possess are incredible. To make it to the team, height is a requirement.
Basketball is one of the highest paying sports in the world. That means the players are making extremely good money.
The richest basketball player has clicked the one billion mark! It is evident that they are getting richer with every game.
Top 20 Richest Basketball Players in the World 2021
Basketball is a popular sport with a huge fan following. What makes it more popular is the great fortune it gathers.
Here is the list of the top 20 richest basketball players in 2021.
20. Yao Ming – $120 million
Yao Ming is a retired Chinese basketball player who played for the Rockets. As of 2021, his net worth is approximated at $120 million.
Yao’s career was met by many injuries. But he always came back stronger, ready to advance to the next season.
19. Stephen Curry – $130 million
Stephen Curry is termed as the best shooter ever since in the history of the NBA. He has since amassed a net worth of about $130 million.
Stephen is indeed one of the best NBA players. His consecutive long-range 3-point shots made him an outstanding player.
18. Christ Paul – $130 million
Chris Paul is a basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. In 2021, his net worth gathered to up to $130 million.
Chris has been traded severally in his career. He got traded from Oklahoma City Thunder to join Phoenix Suns.
17. Tim Duncan – $130 million
Former basketball player Tim Duncan played for San Antonio Spurs for 19 years. He has managed to gather a net worth of 130 million dollars.
He is an assistant coach for San Antonio Spurs. During his career, he has earned more than $20 million for a season.
16. Dwight Howard – $140 million
Dwight Howard is a celebrated American basketball player in NBA history. He has a net worth of about $140 million.
Howard has made a name for himself throughout his career with the Orlando Magic. He has also played for the Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and the LA Lakers.
15. Kevin Garnett – $150 million
Retired basketball player Kevin Garnett is one of the highest-paid players. As of 2021, net worth hit $150 million.
Kevin’s breakthrough was when he played for Minnesota Timberwolves. He ended his career with Brooklyn Nets after playing for 21 seasons.
14. Dirk Nowitzki – $150 million
German basketball player Dirk Nowitzki joins the list with a net worth of $150 million. During his peak career, he was among the highest-paid players.
What is outstanding about Dirk is he played for one NBA franchise for 21 years. He has since won many recognitions and awards.
13. Carmelo Anthony – $160 million
Carmelo Anthony is among the richest basketball players with a net worth of $160 million. He is a ten times NBA All-Star and six times as an All-NBA Team member.
Brooklyn-born Carmelo Anthony is said to be the most popular New York Knicks. He earns from other sources and not from salary only.
12. James Harden – $165 million
James Harden’s net worth is roughly $165 million as of 2021. Apart from his salary, James makes about $19 million via investments.
In 2018 he was named the NBA MVP. James got recognition in the NBA for the best shooting guard.
11. Russell Westbrook – $170 million
As of 2021, Russell Westbrook’s net worth has risen to $170 million. This is an indication that he has had an impressive and successful career.
Russell has played for Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. In December 2020, he was signed by Giannis Antetokounmpo for five years at $228.2 million.
10. Dwyane Wade – $170 million
In 2021, Dwyane Wade’s net worth got to $170 million. In his NBA career, Dwayne has received a salary of up to $198 million.
His extra income comes from endorsements and shoe contracts. Dwyane’s peak season was when he played for the Chicago Bulls with an income of $23.2 million.
9. David Robinson – $200 million
Retired basketball player David Robinson’s net worth is about $200 million. His 14-year career was built playing for San Antonio Spurs.
During his career, David has received $116 million salary-wise. In 2009, he was inaugurated into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
8. Hakeem Olajuwon – $230 million
Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth as of 2021 had risen to 230 million dollars. The Nigerian basketball player was an incredible player until his retirement.
Hakeem played pro basketball for Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets. His basketball career went on for 18 years.
7. Grant Hill – $270 million
Grant Hill has had 18 seasons as a professional American basketball player. He is among the richest players with a net worth of 270 million dollars.
Throughout his NBA career, Grant has played for four clubs. He amasses his wealth through endorsements too.
6. Shaquille O’Neal – $400 million
Shaquille O’Neal is prominent in basketball for his powerful dunks. His physical stature has made him have an advantage over his opponents.
As of 2021, Shaquille’s net worth is at 400 million dollars. To this day, he makes about $60 million annually from endorsements.
5. Lebron James – $480 million
LeBron James is a renowned player for the LA Lakers. LeBron has managed to amass a wealth of $480 million.
LeBron has four Championships to himself. He has had a successful 17-year career in basketball.
4. Junior Bridgeman – $600 million
Junior Bridgeman has had a 12 years successful basketball career. As of 2021, his net worth had hit $600 million.
The highest Junior made in a single-season salary was $350,000. Apart from being an NBA player, he is also a successful fast-food entrepreneur.
3. Magic Johnson – $600 million
Magic Johnson is among the greatest NBA players in history. His net worth is roughly $600 million.
Magic Johnson was the president of the Los Angeles Lakers. In NBA history, he has been awarded All-star honors twelve times.
2. Kobe Bryant – $770 million
The untimely death of Kobe Bryant was quite shocking. At the time of his death, he was estimated to have a net worth of $770 million.
The late Kobe stood out for his aptitude of scoring with precision. Bryant played for the Lakers until he retired.
1. Michael Jordan – $1.5 billion
The richest basketball player as of 2021 is Michael Jordan. This former professional player has a net worth of 1.5 billion dollars.
Michael Jordan is a big name in the basketball world. He played for the Chicago Bulls for 15 seasons, winning six championships.
Conclusion
Evidently, many basketball players are making it big in NBA history. With the highest-paid player hitting the billion-dollar mark.
However, not everyone can be a basketball player. Height is a huge determinant.
The highest-earning players have had to put in a lot of work. Without that, they would not be on top of their game.
,