Highest Paid NBA Player in 2025
Stephen Curry remains the highest paid NBA player in 2025, with a full season salary of roughly 55.8 million dollars under his current contract with the Golden State Warriors. His earnings are based on the salary cap and luxury tax rules monitored by the NBA and reported by sources such as Forbes and Spotrac, which track league salary figures and contract structures.
Curry's on-court pay is supplemented by a massive endorsement portfolio and business investments, making his total annual income far larger than his salary alone. His deals with companies like Under Armour, Chase, and Rakuten, plus ownership stakes and media ventures, push his overall earnings into the upper tier of professional athletes worldwide.
NBA Salary Structure and Maximum Contracts
NBA salary rules allow veteran players to sign contracts that can reach the maximum allowable amount, which is tied to the league's salary cap and calculated using a defined percentage of that cap. The current collective bargaining agreement sets the maximum contract at around 35 to 38 percent of the salary cap, depending on years of service, which is why long-term stars like Curry, LeBron James, and Damian Lillard can command salaries above 50 million dollars per season.
Salary figures are further shaped by the luxury tax, apron rules, and exceptions such as the Designated Veteran Player Extension, which lets certain players sign longer deals at higher percentages. The NBA Players Association, team front offices, and salary cap experts explain these mechanisms in detail, and sites like Spotrac and Basketball-Reference publish updated contract tables every offseason.
Total Earnings: Salary Plus Endorsements and Business Income
When total earnings are measured, the top NBA players combine salary with off-court income from endorsements, equity stakes, media rights, and business ventures. Forbes regularly publishes athlete earnings lists that include both playing income and business activity, showing how figures like Curry, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo build wealth far beyond their NBA contracts.
Curry's business portfolio includes ownership in the Golden State Warriors, investments in companies such as CoinDesk and Hailo, and a growing media and content brand, all of which add to his reported annual income. These earnings are tracked by financial outlets and sports business analysts who use public contracts, SEC filings where applicable, and company disclosures to estimate total compensation and long-term wealth accumulation.