The 10 most underpaid players in NBA history

Let's take a look today at the earnings of some of the biggest NBA stars since 1990. In a shared analysis by the Hoopshype colleagues, we review the players who have been most underpaid considering the earnings in each season, their salary, and their on-court performance. Men like LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, or Luka Doncic have earned much less than they deserved.

1. LeBron James

• Real Value: $703,305,189
• Earnings: $482,593,428
• Discrepancy: $220,711,761 (45.73%)

LeBron James, considered by many as the greatest player in history, has been the most underpaid according to this metric, despite being the highest-earning player in NBA history. During his 2008-09 season, when he won the MVP, LeBron earned $14.4 million, while his real value was $44.4 million, representing a $30 million difference in that season.

2. Nikola Jokic

• Real Value: $349,831,374
• Earnings: $198,343,831
• Discrepancy: $151,487,543 (76.38%)

The Serbian, current star of the Denver Nuggets, has been consistently underpaid. In the 2022-23 season, when he won his second MVP, his real value was $70.1 million, but he only received $33.1 million, resulting in a $37 million difference.

3. Luka Doncic

• Real Value: $258,862,928
• Earnings: $109,636,871
• Discrepancy: $149,226,057 (136.11%)

At 25, Luka Dončić is already among the most underpaid players in history. In the 2023-24 season, he was paid $40.1 million, but his real value was $81.1 million, marking the largest difference in a single season in NBA history: $41 million.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Real Value: $354,463,927
• Earnings: $236,092,616
• Discrepancy: $118,371,311 (50.14%)

The two-time MVP and NBA champion has also been undervalued in terms of salary. In his 2016-17 season, when he was an All-Star, he earned $3 million while his real value was $27.3 million, representing a $24.3 million difference.

5. Jayson Tatum

• Real Value: $219,750,295
• Earnings: $121,128,660
• Discrepancy: $98,621,635 (81.42%)

The Boston Celtics forward had a significant difference in the 2023-24 season, with a salary of $32.6 million, but a real value of $60.9 million. As his new $315 million contract approaches, these differences are expected to balance out.

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• Real Value: $173,381,055
• Earnings: $81,265,732
• Discrepancy: $92,115,323 (113.35%)

The Canadian was the most underpaid player in the 2023-24 season, with a $33.8 million difference between his $33.3 million salary and his real value of $67.1 million. With his constant improvement, he is expected to climb even higher on this list in the coming years.

7. Dwyane Wade

• Real Value: $287,225,122
• Earnings: $199,499,205
• Discrepancy: $87,725,917 (43.85%)

One of the standout players of the Miami Heat, Wade was most underpaid in 2005-06 when he earned $3 million and his real value was $27 million. That season he led the team to the title and was the Finals MVP.

8. James Harden

• Real Value: $423,166,570
• Earnings: $340,720,428
• Discrepancy: $82,446,142 (24.20%)

Harden has been underpaid for most of his career, although in the 2023-24 season, it was one of the few years he was overpaid, with an $8.9 million difference between his salary and real value.

9. Anthony Davis

• Real Value: $342,052,340
• Earnings: $268,301,708
• Discrepancy: $73,750,632 (27.49%)

The Lakers' center was underpaid in 2023-24, with a $7.9 million difference. His most underpaid season was in 2014-15 when he earned $5.6 million and his real value was $27 million.

10. Tyrese Haliburton

• Real Value: $86,111,768
• Earnings: $17,878,995
• Discrepancy: $68,232,773 (381.64%)

The young Indiana Pacers player had his most underpaid season in 2023-24, with a $30.5 million difference between his salary and real value, marking the beginning of a promising career.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 10 jugadores más infrapagados de la historia de la NBA