NBA Player Salaries: Who's Making What?

With salaries inching toward $25 million, everyone's wondering who's making what with NBA player’s salaries. Kids idolize them, men want to be them, and women want to be with them. The National Basketball Association has become a well-oiled machine for producing legends and these athletic icons are cash cows. The biggest names in basketball aren't always the highest paid, but with salaries in the eight-figures, don't feel too bad for them. Here's what NBA player salaries looked like in 2009 for the basketball's slam-dunks:

1. LA Lakers guard, Kobe Bryant earned $21,262,500. One of the most notable names in basketball, or maybe all of the sporting world, Kobe's killer offensive instincts and exciting gameplay earned him the second highest NBA-player salary. The self-nicknamed "Black Mamba" is not only a seven-time NBA All-Defensive team member, but also one half of one of the most legendary pairs in basketball; The LA Lakers undoubtedly dominated the game during Shaq/Kobe Era, making both names synonymous with basketball greatness.
2. Allen Iverson collected a cool $20,840,625. He's been around the block more than most - and not just because his career span is twice that of most on this list (he was Rookie of the Year in 96-97), but also because he's swapped teams more often. In his nearly fifteen-year career, he's played for the 76'ers, the Denver Nuggets, the Detroit Pistons, and the Memphis Grizzlies. One of the most prolific scorers of all-time, he currently averages 26.7 points per game and has two All-Star MVPs under his belt.
3. San Antonio Spurs player, Tim Duncan, grabbed $20,598,704. Teams across the board in the NBA have learned one thing over the decades since its inception: build your team around a rock-solid player and you'll thrive. The San Antonio Spurs have done just that with Tim Duncan, whose known as "The Big Fundamental." This record-high two-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA Finals MVP has been called the "cornerstone of The Spur Dynasty."
4. Shaquille O'Neal. Need we say more? He may be one of the biggest legends to ever come out of basketball. Earning a cool $20-million-even in 2009, we think he's comparatively underpaid. The other half of the biggest sensation since "Stockton to Malone", the Shaq/Kobe Era pheonom ended the '09 season with the Phoenix Suns. Shaq is definitely an icon to be remembered with the likes of Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, and Michael Jordan.
5. LeBron James pulled $15,779,912.  His nickname says it all.  As “King James,” he dominates the court as basketball royalty.  As a first-round draft pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers straight out of high school, LeBron has racked up quite the trophy case.  Rookie of the Year in 03-04, Olympic bronze in 2004, Olympic Gold in 2008, MVP in ’09 and All-NBA and All-Star teams consistently every year since 2005.  What can’t this NBA player do?
6. Miami Heat Star Dwyane Wade matched with $15,779,912.  In his sixth season in the NBA, “DWade” or “Flash,” as his teammates call him, has risen as one of the stars of basketball. He’s a fan-favorite since he led the Miami Heat to the Championship in 2006 and earned himself a title of NBA Finals MVP that same year.
7. Dwight Howard made a mark with $15,202,590.  Known all-around as “Thunder,” this 6’11” center for Orlando Magic is in his fifth season after being a first-round pick in 2004. He’s been touted as “NBA’s best entertainment” and though he may not be an 09 MVP, he’s making an indelible mark on this game.

References: 

Salaries Database