It is no secret that NBA stars can make big bucks. As the league salary cap continues to rise each year, the potential for lucrative wages increases further. In fact, 20 players had salaries above $ 30 million last season, and even RPG players could be successful. The average salary for an NBA player in 2019-20 was over $ 6.9 million, with a low of just over $ 2.9 million.
Even with these huge current numbers, there are still plenty of players who made a surprisingly large amount of money during their game days. Some of the names on this list are retired, while others are still playing, giving them a chance to win even more. But one thing connects them all: They made a ton of money while on the court.
Chris Bosh – $ 239,063,022
Chris Bosh tops this list as one of the top ten winners in NBA history. He spent the first half of his career with the Toronto Raptors before partnering with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami. The "Big Three" reached four consecutive NBA Finals, winning two titles along the way.
Bosh officially retired last year, though he hadn't played a game since 2016. Although the 11-time All-Star certainly had a decorated career, the relative brevity makes his career gains a surprise. Bosh played 13 seasons before the recurring blood clotting ended his playing days, but he still raised nearly $ 240 million.
Paul Millsap – $ 181,245,742
When you think of sparkle and excitement, the name of Paul Millsap is probably not the first one that occurs to you. After all, the 14-year veteran went to Louisiana Tech, a university that isn't exactly recognized for his basketball prowess. And he was ranked 47th in the 2006 NBA Draft, a half-second round pick that generally wouldn't attract attention. Despite being generally out of the spotlight, Millsap has had an impressive career.
He made the All-Rookie second team in 2006, the start of a consistently strong presence on the court. After seven seasons in Utah, he joined the Atlanta Hawks, which is when things really took off. He made his four appearances in the All-Star Game over the next four years, earning his best scoring and rebounding numbers while with the Hawks. His strong game earned him a $ 90 million contract from the Denver Nuggets in 2017. That deal expires after this season, so Millsap will try to get one more big contract as the end of his career approaches.
Mike Conley, Jr. – $ 173,617,830
As for career awards, Mike Conley's trophy rack is pretty empty. He made the NBA's second defensive team in 2013, but that has been his only award in the league. He's a great teammate, though: He won the NBA Sportsmanship Award three times and won the Partner of the Year Award last season, and that can pay the bills as well as a strong game.
Conley earned a five-year, $ 153 million extension from the Grizzlies in 2016. At the time, it was the largest contract in NBA history. He was traded to the Utah Jazz this offseason and will exceed $ 200 million before his deal closes. Although his numbers fell, he was still a large part of the team. And here's a fun fact: Conley has never received a technical foul.
Chris Bosh (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
Gilbert Arenas – $ 163,475,636
Nicknamed "Agent Zero", Gilbert Arenas had some fantastic seasons in the mid-2000s. He made three consecutive All-Star teams from 2005 to 2007, winning two All-NBA Third Team Awards and an All-NBA Second Team wink. He tore his ACL the following season, playing in just 13 games. However, the Wizards rewarded him with a six-year, $ 111 million contract.
That contract turned out to be cumbersome, as Arenas brought unloaded weapons to the Wizards Verizon Center locker room the following year and was suspended by the league. Arenas played in just 121 more games than the regular season for five seasons after receiving his contract extension. He was traded to the Orlando Magic en route, and he eventually became the first player released through the league's amnesty clause. In total, he spent only 11 seasons in the NBA.
Juwan Howard – $ 151,465,633
Juwan Howard only made more than $ 20 million a year once in his career, but he is an example of the power of longevity in the NBA. The former Fab Five star spent his first seven seasons with the Washington Bullets / Wizards, then toured the league, making stops in Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Houston, Minnesota, Charlotte, Portland, and Miami.
Although his career spanned almost 20 years, Howard made only one All-Star team. He also won two championships in his past two seasons, putting a good limit on a lucrative career.
J. J. Redick – $ 104,253,015
Until 2017, the majority of J.J. Redick had earned just under $ 7.4 million in a single season. But NBA teams crave good shooters, and Redick is one of the best. He has reached at least 42 percent from the three-point range in five of the past six seasons, including a 47.5 percent league leader in 2015-16.
As a result, by the time his current contract ends next year, Redick, who has been in the NBA since 2006, will have earned more than half of his career earnings in the past four seasons.
Erick Dampier – $ 97,963,871
Erick Dampier never formed an All-Star team or an All-NBA team. He didn't win a championship either, although he played for both Dallas and Miami the year before they won their titles in 2011 and 2012, respectively. He didn't even average more than 12.3 points per game in one season, he only reached double digits in scoring twice in 16 seasons.
However, none of that matters, because Dampier still had a great NBA career, financially. His salary increased every year from 1996 to 2004, and then again from 2005 to 2010. He added it all up and brought home $ 100 million despite not being close to a star.