If you have a long NBA career, most times you’ll see your salary peak in your late 20s or early 30s. But that’s not always the case. A bunch of NBA players since 1990 (as far back as our salary data goes) earned their highest yearly income much later – sometimes when they were no longer playing in the league.
As of now, LeBron James ranks fourth among players who earned their maximum salary at the oldest age. But as with so many other HoopsHype rankings, he may end up at No. 1 eventually.
For now, here’s the list:
Davis MILLS/AFP via Getty Images
Peak salary age: 42
Peak salary: $1,470,000 in 1997-1998
BILL POLO/AFP via Getty Images
Peak salary age: 40
Peak salary: $4,000,000 in 1993-1994
Brian Bahr /Allsport
Peak salary age: 40
Peak salary: $2,290,000 in 2000-2001
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 39
Peak salary: $47,607,350 in 2024-2025
Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 39
Peak salary: $19,250,000 in 2002-2003
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 38
Peak salary: $25,000,000 in 2016-2017
Harry How/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 38
Peak salary: $11,014,500 in 2024-2025
JAMES NIELSEN/AFP via Getty Images
Peak salary age: 38
Peak salary: $16,700,000 in 2000-2001
J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT
Peak salary age: 38
Peak salary: $1,300,000 in 1993-1994
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $19,727,524 in 2002-2003
Nick Laham/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $13,925,000 in 2005-2006
GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $11,000,000 in 2000-2001
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $7,560,000 in 2018-2019
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $4,837,633 in 2004-2005
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $2,625,000 in 2002-2003
Otto Greule Jr /Allsport
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $2,370,000 in 2000-2001
Harry How /Allsport
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $2,000,000 in 2000-2001
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $1,662,961 in 2014-2015
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $1,000,000 in 1991-1992
Getty Images
Peak salary age: 37
Peak salary: $315,000 in 1991-1992
