Los Angeles Lakers Players with the Highest Earnings of All Time

The Los Angeles Lakers are undoubtedly one of the most iconic basketball teams globally, not only in the NBA. The franchise has a rich history and has experienced it all. Watching the Lakers play has always been a treat, from Kobe Bryant’s memorable buzzer-beaters to Shaquille O’Neal’s incredible performances in the paint.

With 17 championships, the Lakers and the Celtics are the most successful teams in the NBA. The team boasts the largest fan following in the NBA, with 21.8 million fans worldwide cheering for the purple and gold. At an estimated $5.9 billion in 2022, the Los Angeles club was classified as the third most valuable team in the NBA. The Lakers have drawn some of the game’s top players, including Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James.

Large names bring big incomes; these names have created amazing memories for the business, and it is only fair that they are properly compensated.

1. Kobe Bryant
   Total Revenue: $328,237,108
   The late Kobe Bryant, who played for the Lakers for 20 years and won five championships, is considered by many as the greatest basketball player of all time and is the best player in the franchise’s history. “Black Mamba,” who was selected by the Lakers with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, would team up with Shaquille O’Neal to help the team win three NBA titles in a row. As a Lakers player, Bryant made nearly $323 million; his performance and contribution greatly outweighed his salary, making him an excellent value for the team.

   After agreeing to a six-year contract with the Lakers, the former MVP saw his compensation increase from $1.1 million in his rookie year to $70 million in 2000. After the club won the 2009 title, Kobe inked his first mega-deal, a three-year, $84 million contract extension. In November 2013, Kobe inked a new two-year contract worth $48 million. $30,453,805 was earned by the five-time champion in 2013–14. $23,500,000 in 2014–15, and $25 million in 2015–16, his last NBA season. After agreeing to a six-year contract with the Lakers, the former MVP saw his compensation increase from $1.1 million in his rookie year to $70 million in 2000. After the club won the 2009 title, Kobe inked his first mega-deal, a three-year, $84 million contract extension.

2. LeBron James
   Total Revenue: $197,966,106
   LeBron James has been the subject of much anticipation since his high school days; few basketball players have lived up to the hype like him. He answered all of the questions. The Los Angeles Lakers offered him a four-year, $153 million contract in the summer of 2018. Having missed the postseason since 2014, “The King” instantly turned the Lakers into a championship contender after he joined the team. The four-time MVP led the team to its 17th championship title in 2020 by starting with Anthony Davis. According to reports, he made $41 million in 2022, and by the end of 2023, he should receive $44 million. According to his current deal, he gets paid $616,716 each time he plays. LeBron James is a basketball icon and one of the greatest players of all time. The LA Lakers are having an incredible run over his 20-year career.
3. Shaquille O’Neal
   Total Revenue: $144,749,716
   Shaquille O’Neal was unmatched in the paint in ways that words cannot express. O’Neal is regarded as one of the greatest free-agent acquisitions in NBA history, having joined the Lakers in 1996. At the time, it was thought to be a huge deal when the seven-foot-tall Shaq signed a seven-year, $121 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. From 2000 to 2002, Shaq led the squad to a three-peat championship triumph with the help of a specific adolescent phenom. In 2003, Shaquille O’Neal’s contract with the Lakers ended, and he rejoined the team with an agreement to pay $88.5 million over the next three years. Many people rank the four-time Finals MVP as one of the greatest players to have ever worn purple and gold. During his tenure as a Laker, Shaquille O’Neal made a substantial salary of $144,749,716.3.
4. Anthony Davis
   Total Revenue: $133,177,099
   One of the best big players in the NBA right now, Anthony Davis has been a vital member of the Lakers since joining them in 2019. He was a key player in their 2020 title victory. Recognized as one of the greatest power forwards of all time, Davis joined the Lakers in 2020 after leaving the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis played a crucial role in the Lakers’ 2020 Championship victory alongside LeBron James.
5. Pau Gasol
   Total Revenue: $120,116,000
   Pau Gasol, known to Lakers fans as “Kung Pow,” had a crucial role in the team’s championship victories in 2009 and 2010. Pau Gasol is remembered for his professional demeanor, work ethic, upbeat outlook, and seamless play alongside Kobe Bryant. His tenure with the Lakers will always be remembered. Gasol made $13,735,000 in his debut season with the Lakers, helping the team win its first championship in seven years. Gasol agreed to a $57 million, three-year contract deal with the Lakers in December 2009. In 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers won the championship again after defeating the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Pau earned $16,452,000 in revenue in the 2009–10 campaign. The Hall of Famer joined the Chicago Bulls in the summer of 2014, moving away from Los Angeles. One of the best foreign players of all time is thought to be the two-time NBA champion.
6. Lamar Odom
   Total Revenue: $77,459,717
   Lamar Odom was picked in 1999 by the LA Clippers, the local rivals, but he moved across town to play for the Lakers in 2004. He was a very flexible player with the ability to defend, rebound, pass, and score. In the summer of 2009, the team signed a four-year, $33 million contract with the 6-foot-10 power forward, rewarding him for his successful championship run in which he was instrumental in winning a championship. The financial outlay was profitable because Odom played a significant role once more as they won a championship. Odom battled substance misuse and personal problems, so his stint with the Lakers was not without controversy. He was well-paid for his time and efforts, though, and a fan favorite at the Staples Center.
7. Russell Westbrook
   Total Revenue: $75,262,848
   Russell Westbrook III, a fantastic point player whose reputation precedes him, had an incredible tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He became who he is because of his slam dunks, athleticism, and explosiveness, and the Lakers fans embraced him when ESPN revealed that he would be joining them in 2021. His tenure with the franchise was uneventful, though. His inconsistent play style drew criticism, and he had trouble integrating with his teammates, especially LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The former MVP signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, a rival team across town. Despite difficult times throughout his tenure with the Lakers, Westbrook rose to become one of the best paid players in the team’s history, taking home $578,000 for each game he participated in.
   Fans have dubbed Westbrook “Fashionista” because of the way he uses his wealth to maintain his style; in an interview, former teammate James Harden said that Westbrook spends about $350,000 a year on clothing alone.
8. Luol Deng
   Total Revenue: $64,544,067
   Since that most Lakers fans won’t be able to recall his time with the purple and gold, he makes an unexpected appearance on the list of the highest-paid Lakers players of all time. With a four-year, $72 million contract, Luol Deng signed with the Lakers in July 2016.
   The Lakers were still trying to compete after Kobe Bryant retired, as evidenced by the fact that the deal was among the most expensive in the NBA at the time. During his tenure in Los Angeles, Luol Deng was a two-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA defender. Luol Deng was inconsistent during a period when the Lakers needed a leader, and he missed a lot of time due to injuries, so his stint with the team was generally unsuccessful. Before Deng decided to leave the team in 2018 to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, the franchise paid him a total of $64,544,067 in salary over two years.
9. Andrew Bynum
   Total Revenue: $49,987,258
   In the 2005 NBA Draft, Andrew Bynum was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the tenth overall choice. In NBA history, he is the youngest player to be drafted. His career and his tenure at the Staples Center were significantly impacted by his injury troubles. However, he ultimately demonstrated his value as a Lakers player, helping the team to two NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. The Lakers and Bynum reached a $58 million, four-year contract extension in 2008. For his part in the Lakers’ 2009 and 2010 league championships, Bynum is still cherished even if his tenure with the team ended in discord. The Lakers gave him $2 million in salary during his debut campaign. He had a $16 million salary by the time of his last season with the Lakers.
10. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
    Total Revenue: $49,958,196
    Presently, one of the greatest shooting guards in history is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers signed him in July 2017; he was lovingly called KCP. In that same month, he signed a $18 million one-year contract. Caldwell-Pope reportedly signed a one-year, $12 million contract to rejoin the Lakers after having a great season. KCP extended his deal for another two years for $16 million in 2019. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won his first championship with the Lakers in the 2019-2020 season, and he was a crucial contributor to the team’s first ring in ten years. Following his impressive championship run, he signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Lakers for the third and last time. Caldwell-stint Pope’s with the Lakers was noteworthy both for the fans and for his bank account; he earned more than $49 million in Los Angeles, which equates to $157,101 per game.

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