Overview
- Sportico projects Curry will earn $122.6 million in 2026–27 when combining his NBA pay and endorsements, making him the league’s highest-paid player on that measure.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only other projected $100 million earner at $108.5 million while Kevin Durant ($93.9 million), LeBron James ($88.9 million) and Jayson Tatum ($78.5 million) round out the top five.
- Curry’s endorsement estimate rises to about $60 million after a reported 10-year, $400 million shoe deal with China’s Li‑Ning, and LeBron still leads endorsements at roughly $85 million despite a steep salary drop.
- LeBron’s NBA salary falls from $52.6 million to $3.9 million because of the pay cut tied to his move to the Philadelphia 76ers, and Durant is notable for earning more from endorsements — about $50 million — than from his $43.9 million salary.
- Sportico estimates the top 20 players will combine to earn roughly $1.47 billion in 2026–27 with about 30 percent coming from off‑court deals, underscoring how endorsements and shoe contracts now shape elite players’ income and market value.