The NBA has been around for over a century and has seen many incredible duos. With the start of the 2021-22 season, here is a list of the top 10 most expensive NBA duos for this upcoming season.
The when does the nba season start is a question that has been asked many times. The top 10 most expensive NBA duos for the 2021-22 season will be listed below.
When free agency begins, money is tossed about like confetti. For the average fan, the insane number of zeros that are added to contracts may be a little daunting. With that stated, the NBA has made it obvious that in order to win a championship, you must have at least two, if not three, superstar players.
That may come with a hefty price tag. However, being the highest-paid NBA pair on the floor does not guarantee victory. It’s also not a guarantee that you’ll make the playoffs.
Before we get into the details, it’s worth noting that among the league’s highest-paid superstars, John Wall ($44.3 million), Bradley Beal ($34.5 million), and Pascal Siakam ($33.0 million) all have hefty salaries, but none of their counterparts can equal them. It’s also worth noting that Paul George ($39.3 million) and Kawhi Leonard ($39.3 million) would be on this list, but Leonard’s new deal terms have yet to be revealed.
Two duos were on the verge of being cut, but their contracts were not high enough. Jimmy Butler (36.0 million) and Bam Adebayo ($28.1 million) were on the outside looking in, but Butler’s new contract may put him in the top-10 shortly. Julius Randle ($19.8 million) came close to making it due to Kemba Walker’s ($36.0 million) hefty contract.
Let’s move on to the money now that it’s out of the way. The most costly duos for the 2021-2022 season are shown below.
10. Jamal Murray And Nikola Jokic – $56.9 MillionF
Take a minute to consider this. If Leonard’s pay had been added up by now, he wouldn’t even be among the top ten most expensive duos. Jokic ($31.5 million) and Jamal Murray ($29.4 million) would sit on the outside looking in. You can enjoy what Jokic brings to the table in terms of basketball, but you can also appreciate the fact that you are getting a player of his caliber for about $20 million less than market value.
The only thing Jokic lacks in contrast to superstars like Steph Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are both projected to earn $50 million per year, is a title. The Nuggets have a chance to make a run this season if Murray and the rest of the supporting group remain healthy.
9. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons have a net worth of $58.9 million dollars.
Here’s a fascinating truth. Last season’s MVP candidate Joel Embiid is the team’s third-highest paid player. With a salary of $35.9 million, Tobias Harris is the highest-paid player, followed by Ben Simmons with a salary of $33.0 million. Simmons, a contender for Defensive Player of the Year, was so bad offensively that he was rumored to be moved this summer.
Simmons, on the other hand, seems to be planning another year in Philadelphia. The 76ers earned the No. 1 seed in the East due to their big three, but the team’s ability to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2001 will be determined by Simmons’ growth.
D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns – $60.6 million
This is humiliating. Minnesota, which went 23-49 last season, is paying the eighth most money to two players. In the past two years, no player has been in the All-Star Game. Despite the fact that both players have dealt with injuries and personal problems, the squad continues to stink even when they are both on the field.
This is supposed to be an accurate representation of the Timberwolves franchise. Every year, the team makes poor choices. You’d think that when you pay this much money, you’d receive something in return. So far, it’s been a poor showing for two players who each earn about $30 million.
7. Chris Paul and Devin Booker – $62.4 million
If Chris Paul had taken his $42 million player option, the duo of Paul and Booker would have risen higher in the rankings. Instead, Paul turned down his offer and instead arranged a contract that would provide him with more money in the future. This year, Booker ($31.6 million) and Paul ($30.8 million) will earn almost the same yearly pay.
Paul and Booker are coming off a championship-winning season with the Suns. When you consider what they have ahead of them on this list, this is a very team-friendly bargain.
6. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert – $62.9 million
Last season, the Jazz had the best record in the NBA thanks to Gobert and Mitchell, but they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. For the third time, Gobert ($34.8 million) was named to the All-NBA team and earned Defensive Player of the Year. Mitchell, on the other hand, earned his second consecutive All-Star appearance and will earn $28.1 million.
For making the Jazz contenders, the two deserve to be a top-10 costly pair, but if they want to be paid like top tier superstars, they must lead Utah to a Conference or NBA Finals. Despite their regular-season dominance, the Jazz have not been able to duplicate it in the playoffs.
5. $74.5 million for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum
Lillard ($43.7 million) and McCollum ($30.8 million) are paid a lot of money for a pair that has only been in one Conference Finals in the past nine years. Lillard is one of the NBA’s most enthralling players. Last season, he was named to the NBA First Team and had the most critical points in the league.
McCollum, on the other hand, has never been in an All-Star game. He has mostly failed to assist Lillard in taking Portland to new heights. Given that the two of them combined to be in the top five on this list, Portlanders should expect more from McCollum.
4. $74.8 million for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton
Simply to make a point. To win a championship, you don’t have to be the highest-paid pair in the NBA. Giannis ($39.3 million) and Middleton ($35.5 million) are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, on this list, but may rise to first if Giannis earns $50 million for an annual salary in the future. Regardless of his pay, delivering the city of Milwaukee its first title since 1971 will be seen as a prize.
Middleton is a surprisingly wealthy guy as well as a sneaky underappreciated player in the NBA. Next season, Middleton will earn the 14th highest salary in the NBA. You wouldn’t expect that from a guy who has only made two All-Star selections, but helping the Bucks win a championship definitely helped his case.
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are third with $83.6 million.
Curry’s pay will ultimately approach $50 million each season, but for now, his combined salary alongside Klay Thompson gives the Splash Bros the league’s third-highest combined income. Curry has done everything you can conceive of and is well-deserving of his reward. In 2015, 2017, and 2018, he guided the Warriors to three championships. He’s won two MVP awards and just finished a season in which he led the league in scoring. Curry will earn $45.7 million this season, making him the highest-paid player in the NBA.
Thompson’s present pay is debatable, and the verdict is still out on whether he really deserves it. Due to injury, Thompson has missed the past two seasons. Thompson’s worth will always be high while he’s healthy, based on what he’s accomplished in the past. Assuming he stays healthy this year, it will be time to evaluate his current worth.
2. Kevin Durant and James Harden – $85.2 million
Harden and Durant were on the verge of becoming the league’s most expensive combination. Their total compensation was $85,229, 740, with Harden earning $44.3 million. Harden will be the league’s second-highest paid player this season, which should come as no surprise given that he is in the last year of his previous contract deal.
Durant will be the seventh-highest paid player when his new deal begins, but he will get a raise. Kyrie Irving will earn over $35 million this season, so Brooklyn isn’t fooling around. This year, the Nets are attempting to purchase a championship. Will it be successful?
1. LeBron James and Russell Westbrook – $85.3 million
The Lakers now have the most expensive tandem in the NBA, thanks to the acquisition of Russell Westbrook. This year, Westbrook and LeBron will earn more than $44 million, for a total of $85,391,690. Anything less than an NBA championship is a steep price to pay. The Lakers, like the Nets, are in a similar situation, with Anthony Davis slated to earn more than $35 million this season.
Westbrook was seen as the missing piece by the Lakers, who had a two-year window to contend. The Thunder gave up a lot of depth in order to get Westbrook, who is coming off a fourth season in which he averaged a triple-double. Westbrook has yet to win a championship, while LeBron is after his fifth. Will the Lakers’ investment pay out in the long run?
Related Tags
- oldest nba player 2021
- nba offensive rankings
- nba roster size
