Sportico recently published the top 100 highest-paid athletes in 2022 and – lo and behold – LeBron James is the king ahead of the three soccer superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
James earned almost three times more than his current salary with the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to his many endorsement deals. No other athlete got paid more through sponsors and brand endorsements than James.
King James is not alone at the top as far as NBA players go, however, as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden made it to the Top 10, too.
Check out below the NBA players on that list.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $72M
Endorsements: $50M
Overall rank: 1st

Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $41.2M
Endorsements: $45M
Overall rank: 6th

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $37.9M
Endorsements: $48M
Overall rank: 7th

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $40M
Endorsements: $36M
Overall rank: 9th

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.9M
Endorsements: $36M
Overall rank: 12th

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $39.8M
Endorsements: $30M
Overall rank: 13th

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $34.2M
Endorsements: $20M
Overall rank: 18th

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.4M
Endorsements: $16M
Overall rank: 23rd

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $31.9M
Endorsements: $13M
Overall rank: 28th

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.5M
Endorsements: $8.5M
Overall rank: 29th

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $31.8M
Endorsements: $10M
Overall rank: 32nd

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $35.5M
Endorsements: $5.5M
Overall rank: 33rd

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32.5M
Endorsements: $8M
Overall rank: 36th

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $39.9M
Endorsements: $500K
Overall rank: 37th

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27.8M
Endorsements: $8M
Overall rank: 50th

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $7M
Overall rank: 51st

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $6M
Overall rank: 55th

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $30.3M
Endorsements: $4M
Overall rank: 56th

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32.5M
Endorsements: $1.5M
Overall rank: 60th

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32.3M
Endorsements: $1.5M
Overall rank: 63rd

David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27M
Endorsements: $6M
Overall rank: 69th

Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $32M
Endorsements: $1M
Overall rank: 69th

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $29.2M
Endorsements: $3.5M
Overall rank: 73rd

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $25.5M
Endorsements: $7M
Overall rank: 75th

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $4M
Overall rank: 75th

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $29.7M
Endorsements: $2M
Overall rank: 79th

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27.8M
Endorsements: $3.8M
Overall rank: 80th

Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.5M
Endorsements: $3M
Overall rank: 82nd

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.1M
Endorsements: $3M
Overall rank: 87th

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $29.7M
Endorsements: $1M
Overall rank: 89th

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $25.3M
Endorsements: $5M
Overall rank: 92nd

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $26.6M
Endorsements: $3.5M
Overall rank: 96th

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $26.5M
Endorsements: $3.5M
Overall rank: 97th

Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $26.9M
Endorsements: $3M
Overall rank: 98th

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $27.9M
Endorsements: $2M
Overall rank: 98th

Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $28.4M
Endorsements: $1.2M
Overall rank: 100th
Basketball, Business, NBA, Ranking, Featured, LeBron James, Top
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