Top 10 Wealthiest Players in the NBA: Paper Chasers

10-T. Shawn Marion

35-year old 4-time All-Star Shawn Marion has made about $10 million a season since playing for the Dallas Mavericks with whom he won the 2011 NBA Championship. During his 8 years in Phoenix, Marion made a little over $59.26 million dollars.

10-T. Carmelo Anthony

2013 Scoring champion and 7-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony makes $21.4 million in salary and another $9 million in endorsements this season. 29-year old Brooklyn born Carmelo Anthony will have to make a choice this summer. Stay in New York, make $23.7 million next season, and hope for another 1^st round out in the playoffs. Or, Melo can take his chances in free agency, which he seems intent on exploring.

9-T. Amar’e Stoudemire

Back in 2010 when Stoudemire signed his nearly $100 million dollar deal with the Knicks I predicted a downfall for the organization in “Knicks Land Stoudemire: A New Beginning or the Beginning of the End for New York,” so it’s hard to be surprised that the Knicks are now paying STAT $21.6 million to score less than 10 points a game. From endorsements alone, Stoudemire stands to pull in nearly an additional $10 million. In his career, Stoudemire has made $142.2 million in salary. Hope he kept most of it because, even though he’s only 31 years old, he won’t see another contract like his last one.

9-T. Dwayne Wade

32-year old Dwayne Wade may already be headed into the downside of his career due to injuries he sustained from his acrobatic style of play. When James and Chris Bosh joined him to chase some rings, Wade accepted the lowest annual salary of the 3 stars, $18.67 million. Now, that Bosh and James have hinted about leaving, what kind of contract will Wade get from the Heat? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst asked Wade about this. And, James quickly jumped in, “D-Wade is getting that Kobe deal.” Wade added, “it’s something I’ll have to think about.” However Wade’s story ends, 3 rings, 4 Finals, and almost $100 million dollars is quite a career.

8. Ray Allen

Grizzly 38-year old veteran sharp shooter Ray Allen is playing a valuable role on another championship team, and while he’s in the twilight of his career, Allen has still earned almost $180 million dollars from his salary alone. In 1997, Allen started the “Ray of Hope” Foundation to assist African American communities.

7. Dwight Howard

Rockets 28-year old center Dwight Howard signed a 4-year, $88 million dollar max contract over the summer. If the Rockets and Howard agree to extend the deal, they could lengthen the deal to a 5-year maximum contract. Contracts aside, Howard also stands to make $27 million dollars per year from endorsements.

6. Dirk Nowitzki

35-year old German native Dirk Nowitzki will likely retire as the greatest European basketball player in NBA history. Certainly, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Drazen Petrovic, Vlade Divac, and Arvydas Sabonis have to be in the discussion, too.

5. Elton Brand

Perhaps one of the most surprising names to find here is Elton Brand. Former Bulls and Clippers All-Star, Brand has played the last few seasons after recovering from a ruptured left Achilles tendon, and the injury has finally caught with him. Yet, at 34 Brand can look back on a career in which he earned $127 million in salary, and led the Los Angeles Clippers to the Western Conference Semifinals (2006), which is amazing since the Clippers have only been to the Semifinals 1 other time since moving to Los Angeles in 1984.

4. Tim Duncan

In Tim Duncan’s humble, yet illustrious, career he’s accumulated almost every professional honor a basketball player can: 4 NBA championships, 3 Finals MVP’s, 2 MVP’s, and he’s a 14-time All-Star. The 37-year old Duncan may never get elected to another All-Star game, but he has earned over $200 million dollars in salary during his career.

3. Kevin Garnett

37-year old former Timberwolves and Celtics forward/center, Kevin Garnett is not a kid anymore, but if he wants, he can party like one. Even as his career winds down, KG is still making $10 million from endorsements.

2. LeBron James

At 29 Akron native LeBron James is on his way to his 5^th MVP award in 6 years, even though Kevin Durant and Paul George are also worthy candidates. When James, Bosh, and Wade teamed up, they knew they’d have to take a pay cut. That’s all worked out fine for LeBron who makes $19 million this season from the Heat and another $45 million dollars (per year) from endorsements. Reportedly, James wants to chase the paper and get close to Jordan’s $650 million. He’s still got a ways to go to catch MJ.

1. Kobe Bryant

Philadelphia native, 16-time All-Star Kobe Bryant will likely retire having played his entire career for the legendary Los Angeles Lakers, who have won 16 NBA championships. Having a guaranteed contract extension worth $48.5 million doesn’t hurt, either. Add that to the $250 million Bryant’s made in salary during his career and that makes the 35-year old Bryant the 4^th wealthiest NBA player of all-time behind “The Big Paycheck” Shaquille O’Neal (#3), Earvin “Magic” Johnson (#2), and Michael Jordan (#1).