Luka Dončić Overtakes LeBron James as the NBA’s Highest-Paid Player in 2024
In a major development for the NBA’s financial landscape, Luka Dončić has overtaken LeBron James as the highest-paid player for the 2024/2025 season, earning an astonishing $156 million. This marks a significant shift in the league, highlighting the changing tides as young stars begin to claim the spotlight, both on the court and off.
Dončić, 25, the Dallas Mavericks’ star point guard, has been rapidly rising in stature since entering the NBA in 2018. Known for his exceptional skills and mature game, Dončić’s new contract extends his lucrative deal with the Mavericks and is one of the most significant in the league’s history. His $156 million earnings come from a combination of his player salary, endorsement deals, and various business ventures. With the Mavericks’ renewed investment in him, Dončić has shown his value both as a player and as a global brand.
LeBron James, who had been the highest-paid player in the NBA for years, currently sits just behind Dončić with earnings nearing $150 million. James, now 39, is still an integral part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ success, but his salary has slightly decreased from previous years. However, the veteran forward continues to thrive off the court with endorsement deals that include partnerships with brands like Nike, Pepsi, and AT&T. Despite his immense wealth, James’s financial empire remains massive, securing him a place in the top tier of NBA earners.
This shift in rankings signals a generational change in the league’s financial hierarchy. While James remains a dominant figure, younger players like Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum are emerging as both on-court superstars and marketing giants. The NBA’s growing global popularity, particularly in Europe and Asia, has allowed players like Dončić to leverage their international appeal for significantly higher endorsement and sponsorship deals.
The race for the title of the NBA’s highest-paid player reflects more than just raw talent—it showcases the evolving intersection of sports, business, and personal brand management. With player salaries climbing and the global market expanding, the future of NBA contracts looks more lucrative than ever, especially for the league’s young stars.
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Bad News On Top News:2024–25 NBA Highest Paid Players: Luka Doncic Overtakes LeBron with $156M..
Luka Doncic and LeBron James are the greatest players of their generation, with a combined six NBA MVP Awards and 16 NBA Finals appearances. They paired up for the first time this summer in a competitive situation—All-Star Game
The duo have also laid the blueprint for the modern-day NBA star to build a legacy off the court with endorsements and equity in a myriad of businesses on top of their max-level playing salaries. They will once again be the NBA’s two highest-paid players this season, but the usual order of the pairing has been flipped, with Doncic set to earn an estimated $155.8 million and James at $133.7 million from salaries and off-court incomes.James had been the NBA’s top earner each of the past 11 seasons, with Kobe Bryant in 2012-13 the last player to finish ahead of LeBron before Doncic this year.
Overall, the top 15 players in the league will earn a combined $1.13 billion in salaries and endorsements, up 11% from last year. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($103.8 million), Kevin Durant ($97.9 million) and Damian Lillard ($66.8 million) round out the top five. Doncic will have the highest playing salary in the NBA for the eighth straight year; his Dallas Maverick deal is worth $55.8 million this season. This summer, he signed a one-year extension with the Dallas that will pay the two-time NBA MVP $62.6 million for the 2026-27 season and push his career earnings from playing salaries and endorsements past $1 billion.
