The Los Angeles Lakers point watch reportedly plans to get his $47.06 million player choice for the 2022-23 season. Russell Westbrook is securing a significant payday for next season.
Westbrook declining the choice to hit free agency would have been an absolute stunner, as he probably would not have been ready to bring anything near that huge salary figure on the open market. The nine-time All-Star, who turns 34 in November, is falling off the most season of his 14-year career.
So as Westbrook plays out the last time of the five-year, $206.8 million supermax deal he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder back in 2017, where does he rank among the NBA’s highest-paid players for 2022-23?
Not exclusively is Westbrook the highest-paid Laker over both LeBron James and Anthony Davis for next season, but on the other hand, he’s near being the highest-paid player in the whole league.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is the main player set to earn a higher base salary than Westbrook in 2022-23 at $48.07 million. In any case, assuming James Harden exercises his $47.3 million player choice with the Philadelphia 76ers, he would assume control over the second spot from Westbrook.
The second-highest-salary slot was involved by John Wall until he took a buyout from the Houston Rockets that saw him surrender $6.5 million. Wall presently sits 10th in the NBA at $40.8 million, however, he will tack onto that all out at whatever point he signs with another team, which reportedly is supposed to be the Los Angeles Clippers.
Westbrook is one spot ahead of teammate LeBron James, who will make $44.4 million next season. Like Westbrook, James is entering the last year of his contract.
Two of Westbrook’s former teammates are right behind James, with Kevin Durant ($42.9 million) in fourth and Paul George ($42.4 million) in fifth. However, George may not be long for the top five.
On the off chance that Bradley Beal declines his $36.4 million player choice, he’d be qualified for a five-year, $248 million deal from the Washington Wizards in the impending free agency period. That mammoth agreement would have a beginning salary of $42.7 million and push Beal into the 5th forward of George.
In front of the free agency, here’s a glance at the 30 highest-paid players by base salary for next season, as per Spotrac:
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: $48,070,014
Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers: $47,063,478
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers: $44,474,988
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets: $42,969,845
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers: $42,492,568
T-6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: $42,492,492
T-6. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: $42,492,492
T-6. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers: $42,492,492
John Wall, free agent (from Houston Rockets): $40,866,760
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors: $40,600,080
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz: $38,172,414
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: $37,980,720
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks: $37,948,276
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat: $37,653,300
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers: $37,633,050
T-16. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks: $36,600,000
T-16. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks: $36,600,000
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets: $36,503,300
T-19. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors: $35,448,672
T-19. Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets: $35,448,672
T-21. Kristaps Porzingis, Washington Wizards: $33,833,400
T-21. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $33,833,400
T-21. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $33,833,400
T-24. Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors: $33,616,770
T-24. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: $33,616,770
C.J. McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans: $33,333,333
Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks: $32,544,000
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $32,478,838
T-29. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans: $31,650,600
T-29. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets: $31,650,600
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