Kobe Bryant tops list of highest earning NBA athletes

Checkout Forbes list of the Top 10 earning NBA players

#1 Kobe Bryant
Earnings: $53.2 million

After banking $196 million during the first 15 years of his Lakers ­career, Bryant’s latest deal with the Lakers—worth $84 million over 3 years—kicks off this season. Endorsement deals with Nike, Smart Car and others earn another $28 million a year. He won’t keep it all. He and his wife, Vanessa, announced divorce plans last month.

#2 LeBron James
Earnings: $49 million

Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, State Farm and Upper Deck help the NBA’s top endorser pull in a whopping $33 million for his off-court work (Nike gives him more than $10 million annually). As for playing basketball, that pays less: only $16 million a year.

#3 Dwight Howard
Earnings: $28.9 million

The NBA’s best big man makes $17.9 million in salary and $11 million from sponsors like Adidas and McDonald’s. Howard is the league’s leading free-agent-to-be, fueling rampant speculation where he will end up.

#5 Carmelo Anthony
Earnings: $26.5 million

Anthony forced a trade last year to the Knicks from the Denver Nuggets and received a 3-year contract worth $61 million. The deal includes a player option in year 4 worth $24 million. He makes about $8 million a year from endorsements.

#6 (tie) Amar’e Stoudemire
Earnings: $26.2 million

The 29-year-old power forward put the Knicks back on the NBA map in 2010 when he signed a 5-year, $100 million agreement with the team. He re-signed with Nike this ­summer in a 5-year deal.

#6 (tie) Kevin Garnett
Earnings: $26.2 million

“The Big Ticket” has earned $270 million in salary during his ­16-year career—second only to Shaquille O’Neal. Off court the ticket is smaller, with just $5 million a year from endorsements.

#8 Kevin Durant
Earnings: $24.5 million

The 2-time NBA scoring champ is in the first year of a 5-year, $85 million contract with the Thunder. A 7-year deal with Nike earns the bulk of his $9 million annual off-court income.

#9 Tim Duncan
Earnings: $23.3

The 3-time NBA Finals MVP is considered one of the greatest basketball players ever. The 35-year-old’s best days are behind him, but he was still chosen as an All-Star in 2011 for the 13th straight year. Duncan is in the final year of a 2-year, $40 million contract extension he signed with the Spurs in 2007. He makes about $2 million from endorsements.

#10 Chris Paul
Earnings: $22.4 million

Paul’s profile is soaring with his move from New Orleans to Los Angeles in a December trade that will pay him $16.4 million on the court. Sponsors, including Jordan/Nike, Powerade and Upper Deck, give him another $6 million.