LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency as he looks to chase another NBA title before calling it a career. The 22-time All-Star took a significant pay cut to do so.
After making nearly $53 million with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, James accepted a two-year contract worth the veteran minimum. The decision allowed Philadelphia – which already has two of the NBA’s eight highest-paid players for 2026-27 in Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown – to be able to afford the 41-year-old superstar.
James’ new deal with the 76ers will be worth just under $8 million over two years. He is set to make just under $3.9 million in the first year of his contract, which will mark the least he has earned during a single NBA season, coming in just short of the $4.02 million he made during his rookie season in 2003-04.
Just how cheap is James’ deal for his first season in Philadelphia? A total of 292 NBA players will be making more than him during the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, making James one of the best values league-wide.
Here’s what to know about James’ contract and where it ranks league-wide:
Full list of players making more than LeBron James for 2026-27 season
Below is a full look at the list of players who will make more than LeBron James during the 2026-27 NBA season, according to data from Basketball Reference.
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Anthony Davis, Wizards: $58,456,566
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Joel Embiid, 76ers: $58,100,000
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Jaylen Brown, 76ers: $57,078,728
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Jimmy Butler, Warriors: $56,832,773
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Paul George, Celtics: $54,126,380
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Bam Adebayo, Heat: $49,800,000
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Luka Doncic, Lakers: $49,800,000
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Trae Young, Wizards: $49,488,300
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Pascal Siakam, Pacers: $48,924,624
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Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: $48,924,624
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Lauri Markkanen, Jazz: $46,113,154
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OG Anunoby, Knicks: $42,500,000
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James Harden, Cavaliers: $42,317,307
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Zion Williamson, Pelicans: $42,166,510
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Franz Wagner, Magic: $41,754,690
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Chet Holmgren, Thunder: $41,500,000
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Paolo Banchero, Magic: $41,500,000
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: $40,806,150
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LaMelo Ball, Timberwolves: $40,770,520
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Brandon Ingram, Raptors: $40,000,000
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Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: $39,491,282
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Desmond Bane, Magic: $39,446,090
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Jalen Brunson, Knicks: $37,739,521
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Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: $36,500,000
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Alperen Sengun, Rockets: $35,642,202
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Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers: $34,800,000
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Jordan Poole, Pelicans: $34,044,642
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Aaron Gordon, Nuggets: $33,658,037
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Mikal Bridges, Knicks: $33,482,145
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Tyler Herro, Bucks: $33,000,000
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Immanuel Quickley, Raptors: $32,500,000
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Jalen Suggs, Magic: $32,400,000
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Derrick White, Celtics: $30,348,000
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Myles Turner, Bucks: $26,584,164
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Fred VanVleet, Rockets: $25,000,000
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Josh Giddey, Bulls: $25,000,000
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De’Andre Hunter, Kings: $24,910,714
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Jonathan Kuminga, Hawks: $24,300,000
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Coby White, Hornets: $22,839,506
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Miles Bridges, Suns: $22,826,087
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Grizzlies: $21,621,500
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Norman Powell, Bulls: $21,500,000
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Josh Hart, Knicks: $20,923,760
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Kyle Kuzma, Bucks: $20,345,152
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Malik Monk, Kings: $20,190,035
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P.J. Washington, Mavericks: $19,813,044
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Alex Caruso, Thunder: $19,550,160
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Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors: $19,512,195
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Ayo Dosunmu, Timberwolves: $19,310,345
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Luguentz Dort, Hawks: $18,222,222
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Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers: $18,080,358
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Klay Thompson, Mavericks: $17,460,317
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Daniel Gafford, Mavericks: $17,263,584
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Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: $16,868,246
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Max Strus, Cavaliers: $16,660,836
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Nikola Jovic, Heat: $16,200,000
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Onyeka Okongwu, Hawks: $16,120,000
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Terance Mann, Nets: $15,500,000
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Tobias Harris, Spurs: $15,044,000
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Obi Toppin, Pacers: $15,000,000
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Herbert Jones, Pelicans: $14,898,786
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Caris LeVert, Bucks: $14,809,200
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AJ Dybantsa, Wizards: $14,748,000
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Cooper Flagg, Mavericks: $14,517,480
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Tari Eason, Rockets: $14,051,724
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Rui Hachimura, Clippers: $14,000,000
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Corey Kispert, Hawks: $13,975,000
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Zaccharie Risacher, Mavericks: $13,826,040
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Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers: $13,585,523
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Dorian Finney-Smith, Hornets: $13,335,000
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Darryn Peterson, Jazz: $13,195,320
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Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers: $13,125,000
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Sandro Mamukelashvili, Lakers: $13,000,000
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Steven Adams, Rockets: $13,000,000
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Dylan Harper, Spurs: $12,989,040
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Moses Moody, Warriors: $12,500,000
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Alex Sarr, Wizards: $12,370,680
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Amen Thompson, Rockets: $12,258,609
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Isaac Okoro, Bulls: $11,814,814
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VJ Edgecombe, 76ers: $11,663,880
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Isaiah Joe, Pistons: $11,323,006
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Ausar Thompson, Pistons: $11,117,925
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Royce O’Neale, Hornets: $10,875,000
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Sam Hauser, Celtics: $10,848,215
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Caleb Wilson, Bulls: $10,683,720
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Jusuf Nurkic, Jazz: $10,576,923
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Kon Knueppel, Hornets: $10,516,560
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Luke Kornet, Spurs: $10,450,000
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Anthony Black, Magic: $10,106,316
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A.J. Green, Bucks: $10,044,644
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Stephon Castle, Spurs: $10,015,920
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Caleb Martin, Mavericks: $10,001,493
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Nets: $10,000,000
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Keaton Wagler, Clippers: $9,674,760
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Buddy Hield, Hawks: $9,658,536
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Collin Sexton, Lakers: $9,366,000
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Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards: $9,240,012
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Ron Holland, Pistons: $9,069,600
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Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: $8,787,000
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Quinten Post, Grizzlies: $8,285,714
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Tidjane Salaun, Hornets: $8,237,880
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Deandre Ayton, Wizards: $8,104,000
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Darius Acuff Jr., Kings: $8,021,640
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Tre Jones, Bulls: $8,000,000
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Tre Mann, Hornets: $8,000,000
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Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans: $7,896,240
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Payton Pritchard, Celtics: $7,767,857
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Goga Bitadze, Magic: $7,608,696
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Zeke Nnaji, Nuggets: $7,466,667
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Cason Wallace, Thunder: $7,420,806
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Kingston Flemings, Hawks: $7,348,680
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Dereck Lively II, Mavericks: $7,239,131
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Egor Demin Nets: $7,233,720
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Gradey Dick, Raptors: $7,131,511
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Clint Capela, Rockets: $7,035,000
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Rob Dillingham, Bulls: $6,889,320
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Al Horford, Warriors: $6,822,000
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Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors: $6,649,560
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Keyonte George, Jazz: $6,563,925
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Saddiq Bey, Pelicans: $6,440,678
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Brayden Burries, Bucks: $6,417,360
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Zach Edey, Grizzlies: $6,332,760
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Khaman Maluach, Suns: $6,316,680
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John Konchar, Jazz: $6,165,000
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Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors: $6,096,240
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Marcus Smart, Rockets: $6,064,000
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Cedric Coward, Grizzlies: $6,001,080
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Jaden Hardy, Lakers: $6,000,000
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Jake LaRavia, Lakers: $6,000,000
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Jaxson Hayes, Jazz: $6,000,000
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Josh Okogie, Jazz: $6,000,000
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D’Angelo Russell, Grizzlies: $5,969,250
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Nicolas Batum, Clippers: $5,881,680
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Aday Mara, Thunder: $5,791,680
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Ousmane Dieng, Bucks: $5,750,000
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Matas Buzelis, Bulls: $5,715,360
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Noa Essengue, Bulls: $5,701,200
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Brandin Podziemski, Warriors: $5,679,459
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Khris Middleton, Wizards: $5,591,122
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Precious Achiuwa, Kings: $5,477,000
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Cam Whitmore, Wizards: $5,458,310
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Nikola Topic, Thunder: $5,429,760
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Derik Queen, Pelicans: $5,416,080
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Noah Clowney, Nets: $5,414,034
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Landry Shamet, Knicks: $5,357,143
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Hannes Steinbach, Hornets: $5,227,200
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Dailyn Swain, Bulls: $4,965,480
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Bub Carrington, Wizards: $4,900,560
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Thomas Sorber, Thunder: $4,887,720
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Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz: $4,862,237
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Julian Strawther, Nuggets: $4,826,931
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Bennett Stirtz, Thunder: $4,717,320
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Kel’el Ware, Bucks: $4,654,920
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Yang Hansen, Trail Blazers: $4,643,520
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Jose Alvarado, Knicks: $4,500,000
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Josh Minott, Nets: $4,500,000
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Ebuka Okorie, Pistons: $4,481,280
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Joan Beringer, Timberwolves: $4,411,200
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Christian Anderson Jr., Hornets: $4,257,480
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Walter Clayton, Grizzlies: $4,190,520
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Allen Graves, Raptors: $4,065,720
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Nolan Traore, Nets: $4,002,000
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Ryan Rollins, Bucks: $4,000,000
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Tristan Da Silva, Magic: $3,991,200
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Javonte Green, Pistons: $3,943,679
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Jayden Quaintance, Spurs: $3,902,760
LeBron James’ career earnings
Of course, one of the reasons James was able to take such a massive pay cut is because he has already made a boatload of money during his career.
Across his first 23 NBA seasons, James has made nearly $581.4 million in on-court earnings, per Spotrac.com. A majority of those earnings came across his eight years with the Lakers, during which he made $347.5 million.
James also has numerous lucrative endorsement deals off the court, including with Nike and AT&T, among others.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 292 players will make more than LeBron James this NBA season. Here’s the full list
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