Sep 19, 2017

  • Darren Rovell and Bobby Marks

At the offset of each season, when the salaries of pro athletes are publicized, we're ever left wondering: How much do they really take dwelling?

This NBA flavour, we partnered with sports tax practiced Robert Raiola, manager of the sports and amusement group for PKF O'Connor Davies, to analyze the salaries of the league's highest paid players. We crunched their paychecks to come upward with our all-time estimates of what they walk away with after deductions, every bit outlined to the states by representatives of the players union.

Y'all'll notice that deductions from gross salary include federal, land and city taxes (and in Kyle Lowry's case, Canadian taxes), agent fees (assumed at iii percent) and a maximum 401K contribution of $18,000. In the case of players who alive in a no-income-revenue enhancement state, you'll see that they are paying taxes -- so-called "Jock Taxes" from playing in other states.

You lot'll besides see that players get dorsum the 10 percent of their salary that was held in escrow from last season, subsequently it is taxed. And they lose 10 pct to escrow for this year, which will be given back as long as the owners pay the players the agreed upon 51 percent of Basketball Related Income (BRI). Yous'll also notice a surplus that players will get this twelvemonth. Every role player receives $355,449 (before taxes) because after the ten percent escrow was given dorsum, there was additional money, a shortfall of $163.five 1000000 in total, that needed to exist given dorsum to accomplish the agreed upon percentage.

Notation that only paychecks were analyzed hither and not any boosted revenue the players have in, such as endorsement income.

For the previous four seasons, Stephen Curry was paid a total of $44 million. Thanks to a five-year, $202 million extension, Curry will now average $40.2 million per season. Back-scratch'south salary of $34.8 million this flavor tops the previous high of $33.1 million past Michael Jordan in 1998. If you adjust for inflation, however, that height MJ salary is $50 million in today's dollars.

LeBron James grosses $33.ii million this season. He can re-sign with the Cavaliers for about $207 meg for the next five years adjacent summertime. Or he can max out with another squad in a iv-year deal that will pay him nigh $54 million less. James signed a lifetime deal with Nike that will add another $ane billion to his fortune. He has been strategic in his business investments, cashing out recently in Beats By Dre when the deal with Apple went down ($30 million), and his equity in Bonfire Pizza is at $35 million from a less than $1 million investment.

Paul Millsap has the greatest rise in salary from his rookie season to today. Every bit a 2006 2nd-circular typhoon option of the Utah Jazz, Millsap made $two.1 million for his first three seasons. Now, in his 12th flavour in the league, he'south making more than xv times that.

Gordon Hayward signed a 4-year, $128 million max deal in his motion from Utah to Boston. Only Hayward's motility to Massachusetts comes at a tough time. A proposed subpoena could raise country taxes on earners to a higher place $i million from v percent to 9 percent, start in Jan.

Despite injuries and one high-profile fight, Blake Griffin was re-signed by the Clippers to a five-year deal worth $171 million. The 13.three percent California land tax takes a huge haircut off his earnings.

Kyle Lowry made a combined $65 meg in his first 11 years in the NBA. He'll make a guaranteed $93 million for the next three. Lowry is assessed a 53.v pct revenue enhancement on his Canadian source income. He receives a partial foreign tax credit in the U.S.

Concluding season Mike Conley signed the biggest contract in NBA history with a bargain totaling $153 1000000. He responded by having his greatest scoring flavour, with 20.five points per game while shooting 40 percent from iii-signal range.

Russell Westbrook is eligible to sign a five-year extension with the Thunder worth $207 million. There's something to be said for value of the money in Oklahoma City, the NBA's smallest market. But Westbrook already owns a home in Los Angeles. He bought it for $4.65 million in December 2015 from Kardashian star Scott Disick.

James Harden signed a $169 million supermax extension in the offseason that will begin in 2019-xx. Combined with the 2 years, $59 million left on his current contract, Harden is owed an NBA tape $228 million of bacon. Harden will earn $570,732 a game in his terminal season under contract (2022-23). He pays no country income tax on his non-salary revenue, such equally endorsements, thank you to his living in Texas. That's big, because he signed a 10-twelvemonth, $200 1000000 deal with Adidas.

Al Horford scored xiv points and had nigh 7 rebounds per game terminal season. He is in the 2d year of a $113 million contract. Some fans were concerned about the size of his contract final flavour, just a year later, with more than money being paid out, his contract looks a piffling meliorate this flavour.

This map shows the level of land income revenue enhancement in the NBA. Florida, Texas and Tennessee have no state income tax. California is the only NBA state to tax players more than 10 pct. Canada also taxes players on the Raptors at a higher charge per unit.