Despite a salary cap and maximum salaries, there is still a big disparity in the NBA in terms of how much teams pay their top players.
But unlike the NFL, where top salaries fluctuate each year because of signing and roster bonuses, NBA contracts are fairly straightforward with just a base salary. The result is that NBA teams have more year-to-year consistency in which players are receiving the most money.
Here are the 30 players who will make the most money on their teams this year, ranked by their 2015 salaries, using data obtained from Spotrac and ESPN.
1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers — $25 million
Position: Shooting Guard
Contract: 2 years, $48.5 million
One thing to know: Kobe Bryant is still the highest-paid player in the NBA, but this will be his last year, as he has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
2. Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets — $24.9 million
Position: Shooting Guard
Contract: 6 years, $123.7 million
One thing to know: Johnson has made $173.8 million in his career, making him one of the 25 highest-paid NBA players of all time.
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers — $23 million
Position: Small Forward
Contract: 1 year, $23 million (with a 2016-17 player option)
One thing to know: LeBron keeps signing one-year contracts in order to take advantage of the upcoming surge in the salary cap, and it's going to make him millions.
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