The 21 highest-paid players in NBA history

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers

Highest single-season earnings: $37.4 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 16

One thing to know: James signed a two-year, $85 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers that will bring his total career earnings to $435 million by 2023.

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets

Highest single-season earnings: $28 million (2003-04)

All-Star Games: 15

One thing to know: Garnett got a six-year, $123 million extension when he was just 21 years old — one of the richest deals in NBA history at the time.

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers

Highest single-season earnings: $30.4 million (2013-14)

All-Star Games: 18

One thing to know: Bryant made a large share of his money in the later years of his career, signing a three-year, $84 million in 2011, followed by a two-year, $48 million contract in 2013.

Teams: New Orleans Hornets, LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns

Highest single-season earnings: $41.3 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 10

One thing to know: Paul is in the third year of a four-year, $159 million contract, and is due to make $44.2 million for the 2021-22 season.

Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics

Highest single-season earnings: $27.6 million (2004-05)

All-Star Games: 15

One thing to know: From 1999 to 2009, O'Neal made over $10 million per season. Then he made $1.3 million with the Celtics in his final season.

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets

Highest single-season earnings: $38.1 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 10

One thing to know: Durant signed a 4-year, $164 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2019.

Teams: Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers

Highest single-season earnings: $26.2 million (2017-18)

All-Star Games: 10

One thing to know: Now 36 years old, Anthony signed a one-year, veteran's minimum contract to stay with the Blazers this season.

Teams: Dallas Mavericks

Highest single-season earnings: $25 million (2016-17)

All-Star Games: 14

One thing to know: Nowitzki could have been higher on this list, but in the later years of his career, he signed several team-friendly deals with the Mavericks so they could build the team around him.

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards

Highest single-season earnings: $37.3 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 9

One thing to know: Westbrook is in the third year of a five-year, $206 million contract extension, and he is set to make $47 million in 2022-23.

Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers

Highest single-season earnings: $23.5 million (2017-18)

All-Star Games: 8

One thing to know: Despite ranking 10th all-time in earnings, Howard has never signed a contract worth over $100 million. His largest contract, worth $87.5 million, was signed in 2012.

Teams: San Antonio Spurs

Highest single-season earnings: $22.1 million (2009-10)

All-Star Games: 15

One thing to know: Like Nowitzki, Duncan could have ranked higher on this list had he not signed team-friendly deals with the Spurs later in his career.

Teams: Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat

Highest single-season earnings: $26.8 million (2018-19)

All-Star Games: 11

One thing to know: Bosh signed a five-year, $118 million contract with the Heat in 2014, but he was unable to play past 2016-17 because of blood clots. Bosh was still paid the remainder of the deal, though the Heat were able to do so without it counting against their salary cap.

Teams: LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons

Highest single-season earnings: $34.2 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 6

One thing to know: Griffin signed a five-year, $181 million contract with the Clippers in July 2017 then was traded to the Pistons six months later.

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets

Highest single-season earnings: $35.8 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 8

One thing to know: Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2012 after failing to secure a long-term, lucrative extension with the Thunder. He has made $212 million with the Rockets.

Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks

Highest single-season earnings: $19.2 million (2013-14)

All-Star Games: 6

One thing to know: Gasol did not play in the 2019-20 season because of injury. But he has not officially retired, and there have been rumors that he's looking for a team for the 2020-21 season.

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio spurs

Highest single-season earnings: $24.3 million (2019-29)

All-Star Games: 7

One thing to know: Aldridge is in the final year of his contract and owed $25 million. He's 35 and still playing at a high level, so it's possible Aldridge could still secure one more big deal.

Teams: Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets

Highest single-season earnings: $23.1 million (2014-15)

All-Star Games: 7

One thing to know: After signing a six-year, $123 million contract in 2010, Johnson went on to play for four different teams over the course of the deal.

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder

Highest single-season earnings: $28.9 million (2018-19)

All-Star Games: 5

One thing to know: Horford has signed back-to-back deals worth over $100 million: a four-year, $113 million contract with the Celtics in 2017, then a 4-year, $109 million deal with the 76ers.

Teams: Golden State Warriors

Highest single-season earnings: $40.2 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 6

One thing to know: Curry is relatively low on this list because his MVP seasons occurred when he was on a team-friendly, four-year, $44 million contract.

Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz

Highest single-season earnings: $30.5 million (2018-19)

All-Star Games: 0

One thing to know: Conley has always been an underrated scorer, passer, and defender. He signed a five-year, $152 million contract in 2018 despite never making an All-Star team.

Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers

Highest single-season earnings: $27.1 million (2019-20)

All-Star Games: 5

One thing to know: Love has three years remaining on a four-year, $120 million extension.