Considered by some to be the best basketball player in history, LeBron James is also the first active player to become a billionaire. The King has actually racked up record earnings during his career, thanks in part to his NBA salary which has been climbing for 20 years.
LeBron James’ NBA salary, season by season
- 2003-04 : 4 million dollars
- It’s good as pocket money for a rookie year, knowing that Mom still lives in Akron. FYI, Paolo Banchero earns almost three times more today.
- 2004-05 : 4.3 million dollars
- The year of the first star, and we are talking regarding the NBA and the All-Star Game, not skiing.
- 2005-06 : 4.6 million dollars
- The year of the first Playoffs. This kid is more and more profitable, must say the owner of the Cavaliers Dan Gilbert.
- 2006-07 : 5.8 million dollars
- Rather a good deal for this 22-year-old youngster to carry Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the NBA Finals.
- 2007-08 : 13 million dollars
- End of rookie contract, first big increase for the Chosen One which had extended for 3 years in 2006.
- 2008-09 : 14.4 million dollars
- Tell yourself that the salary of the regular MVP in 2009 is the salary of Brook Lopez in 2022.
- 2009-10 : 15.8 million dollars
- In 2022, that’s a sixth man’s salary. Basketball has changed.
- 2010-11 : 14.5 million dollars
- It’s time to bring his talents back to South Beach, on the other hand, it’s expensive to choke in the Finals.
- 2011-12 : 16 million dollars
- At the top of his game, but yet not at the top of his pay.
- 2012-13 : 17.5 million dollars
- Thanks to Ray Allen for the monetization.
- 2013-14 : 19 million dollars
- Looks well paid, front row spectator at the Spurs show.
- 2014-15 : 20.6 million dollars
- The return home is not free.
- 2015-16 : 23 million dollars
- What a beautiful symbol to touch 23 potatoes for his first title with the Cavs.
- 2016-17 : 31 million dollars
- It’s going to benefit from the rise in cap like everyone else, but even if it means pissing off, it’s better to do it for LBJ than for Chandler Parsons.
- 2017-18 : 33.3 million dollars
- Luckily that wasn’t JR Smith’s salary.
- 2018-19 : 35.7 million dollars
- A little expensive the price to miss the Playoffs with the Lakers.
- 2019-20 : 37.4 million dollars
- A title in the bubble, and still a lot of bubbles in the salary
- 2020-21 : 39.2 million dollars
- 45 regular games, 6 in the Playoffs, we know that infirmary costs in the States are something, but there anyway.
- 2021-22 : 41.2 million dollars
- Missed playoffs for the second time in three years. But hey, there’s the ring, the investment wasn’t totally bad either.
- 2022-23 : 44.5 million dollars
- If time is money, we must surely talk regarding the time spent by AD in the infirmary.
- 2023-24: $46.7 million (next contract)
- At this rate, we will end up saying that the salary corresponds to the age of the player, right?
- 2024-25 : 50,4 millions de dollars (player option)
- Choice, fifty potatoes or play with the son. Unless you can have both?
The evolution of LeBron James’ salaries reflects the significant increase in the salary cap in the NBA since 2016 thanks to the signing of a new TV deal. As a seasoned businessman, the King also made sure to sign short contracts during his second spell in Cleveland to maximize his earnings each year (thanks to the higher cap). This is how he ends up with a total of 435 million dollars in his bank account…
Sources texte : Spotter
