In a symbolic move, Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has not only secured his contract future but has also officially overtaken LeBron James to become the highest-earning player in NBA history by total career salary.
Nov 26, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Durant’s new two-year, $90 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, pushes his total career earnings (including current and future salary) to $598.2 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Notably, this is not the maximum deal; Durant consciously sacrificed approximately $30 million from the $120 million max he was eligible for, aiming to provide long-term financial flexibility for the Houston Rockets.
LeBron James, with estimated total earnings of $583.9 million, now sits in second place. This disparity is partly due to James entering the NBA four years earlier than Durant, during a time of generally lower salaries, and his repeated willingness to take slightly lesser deals to build competitive rosters.
However, this race is far from over. James will become a free agent this summer and is likely to sign a near-max contract, giving him a chance to reclaim the top spot. But in the long run, the wave of young superstars like Devin Booker (trailing Durant by about $70 million), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum are projected to surpass both legends, fueled by the massive influx of revenue from the league’s new media rights deals. Durant’s record may be temporary, but it signifies a shifting of the generational financial power within the NBA landscape.