LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry: Salary analysis of the 2 NBA legends

Juan López - 18 Dec 2024 | 18:02
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Thanks to data from colleagues at Hoopshype, we analyzed the earnings made by both players

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LeBron James and Stephen Curry, NBA stars.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are not only two of the most iconic names in NBA history, but also stand out for the impressive financial figures accumulated throughout their careers. Here, we analyze the earnings of both players and how these have evolved since their debut in the league.

LeBron James began his career in the 2003-04 season with a salary of $4,018,920, thanks to his status as the first overall pick in the Draft and the high expectations generated since his high school days. On the other hand, Stephen Curry had a more modest start, debuting in 2009-10 with $2,710,560 as the seventh pick in that year's Draft.

Rise in their earnings

As their careers progressed, the current players of the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors saw significant increases in their salaries, though in different ways:

  • LeBron James: His contracts increased gradually, reaching $30,963,450 in the 2016-17 season, after multiple titles and awards. This marked a turning point in his career as one of the highest-paid players in the league.

  • Stephen Curry: Starting from the 2017-18 season, Curry surpassed LeBron by a large margin in terms of salaries, with a contract guaranteeing him $34,682,550 that season. Since then, his earnings have steadily risen, making him the highest-paid player in the NBA in recent seasons.

In recent seasons, Stephen Curry has maintained the lead in annual earnings. For example, in 2024-25, Curry will earn $55,761,217, while LeBron, in a later stage of his career, will earn $48,728,845.

Total accumulated

  • LeBron James: Throughout his 20 active seasons, LeBron has amassed $583,949,426 in NBA salaries, standing out as one of the most lucrative players in history.

  • Stephen Curry: By the 2026-27 season, it is projected that Curry will accumulate $535,799,873. Although he won't reach LeBron's total, his advantage in recent seasons reinforces his position as an economic standard in the league.

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