How Much Money NBA Superstars Would Earn If They Received Offers From Saudi Arabia
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Everybody is talking about how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has completely changed the world of professional sports. The amount of money available to the Kingdom is truly insurmountable and they have been throwing money at the greatest athletes in the world to create a dynamic sports world in the Middle East. Obviously, soccer superstar Kylian Mbappe’s contract offer has broken the media.
Saudi club Al-Hilal has offered a world-record package for Kylian Mbappe that can cost up to over $1 billion for a one-year rental. Mbappe’s deal includes a $332M transfer fee to soccer club Paris Saint-Germain and a $776M salary for a single season for the Frenchman. Of course, this deal would allow Mbappe to depart for free next summer to Real Madrid, the destination of his choice.
No doubt, this offer is beyond shocking, especially because the French star could earn more in one year than LeBron James made over his career. No surprise, LeBron James reacted (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) and basically admitted an offer of this magnitude would have him departing to the Middle East.
But the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not start there, offering Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi a monster deal to convince him to come to the Middle East beforehand. In order to convince the greatest player of all time, a billion-dollar deal to join Al-Hilal is something Saudis would have had no issue with. However, despite the tempting deal, Messi decided to join Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, a club run by English sports star David Beckham.
In his debut for the team owned by David Beckham, the 2022 World Cup winner announced his arrival in style. With superstar sports celebrities such as LeBron James and Serena Williams watching, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner converted a clutch free-kick game-winner to win the game for his team in the final moment of the game.
Obviously, Saudi Arabia has changed the sports world. Kylian Mbappe’s offer has raised eyebrows across the NBA community as well because the soccer star’s contract will pay him more than 15 of the highest-paid NBA players combined. Current NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has joked that he would be more than willing to play in Saudi and actually act as a Kylian Mbappe replacement. Even Draymond Green got in on the action, even if he might need Stephen Curry to come along with him for a deal to be remotely possible.
Considering how Saudi Arabia has changed the game by offering money to the top soccer stars, how much would the top NBA stars earn if they received similar offers? Obviously, soccer is the prominent sport in the Middle East, but basketball has become a global game, and if there were ever to be a professional league in Saudi Arabia, a handful of NBA stars would be receiving ridiculous money.
The media is broken in North America with Jaylen Brown receiving an unbelievable $304 million supermax extension, but would it be possible that some NBA superstars could receive that in one year by the Saudis? Here is how much the top 20 NBA players in the world would earn if they received a one-year deal to play in The Kingdom.
20. Jamal Murray - $150 Million
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 20.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Jamal Murray is a fringe All-Star during the regular season but becomes one of the best players in the world in the playoffs. Murray’s track record in the postseason is incredible because he did the same in 2020, averaging over 26 PPG on 50.5% shooting from the field. In this year’s playoffs, Murray posted 26.1 PPG and 7.1 APG on 47.3% FG, 39.6% 3-PT FG, and 92.6% FT. Murray was simply on another level as a point guard and he helped lead the Nuggets to the NBA title.
Having an NBA champion and the best player in the NBA Finals behind Nikola Jokic would create a new basketball culture in Saudi Arabia. Murray is clearly a top-20 player in the world, considering how clutch he is, and giving him a $150 million deal for a year to play in the desert would be more than reasonable.
19. De’Aaron Fox - $250 Million
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Season Statistics: 25.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
The Sacramento Kings were patient with De’Aaron Fox and the speedster finally became the player we all knew he could be. The point guard posted the best numbers of his career and was a revelation alongside All-Star Domantas Sabonis for a franchise that made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. In his first playoff appearance, Fox was truly exceptional as he posted over 27 PPG and 7 APG against the Golden State Warriors.
Fox is currently a top-20 player in the world and due to his incredible speed with the basketball in his hands, the point guard will demand at least $250 million to be a star in Saudi Arabia. Seeing a point guard with exceptional speed would fill seats without a doubt, and there might not be a faster person in Saudi Arabia if he would join.
18. James Harden - $300 Million
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Season Statistics: 21.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
James Harden is the best playmaking guard in the NBA right now, with his ability to slice through defenses and find the open. He is simply an All-Star offensive machine who can score at least 20 points every single night in a seemingly effortless manner while adding 10 assists as well. His regular season performances could not warrant another All-Star appearance, but his play did help the Philadelphia 76ers capture the third seed in the East. Even with his decline and frustrating trade requests, The Beard is still a superstar on the offensive side of the floor.
As a result, Harden will get paid major money if Saudi Arabia wants to create a new basketball world. The Beard will shock audiences with his dribble moves, and his step-back three-pointer is one of the most exciting offensive plays in the modern era. Harden will put up ridiculous numbers on the basketball court and a $300 million deal isn’t out of the question.
17. Kyrie Irving - $350 Million
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Much has been said about Kyrie's leadership abilities or lack thereof, but he is still one of the best 20 players in the world. His dribbling and ability to score probably stand out the most since he is the best at getting his shot off despite being defended tightly. Even with the drama he created in Brooklyn with the Nets and the putrid record with the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie has had a fantastic season on the stat sheet and is still one of the best offensive players in the world.
Irving will sell out stadiums in any part of the world, not just Saudi Arabia. As a result, there is no way he would receive an offer of less than $350 million to bring his talents to the court. The only reason Irving won’t be getting paid more is his inability to stay trustworthy to be on the court and his polarizing comments might not fly in a country with strict morals.
16. Donovan Mitchell - $400 Million
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 28.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Donovan Mitchell had the best season of his carer in the regular season, even managing to score 71 points in a single game. With a franchise record 71 points in a single game, Mitchell has already made his impact felt in Cleveland. As expected, the shooting guard made his fourth straight All-Star Team. The shooting guard is incredibly explosive but can also score from outside and has improved his leadership ability.
Due to his incredible athleticism and scoring ability, the guard will earn a ridiculous amount of money from the Saudis. Mitchell would be the superstar in town because he can get buckets with his eyes closed and is only getting better. The fact that Mitchell scored 71 points in a single game means this player is incredibly talented, and he will be paid as a result.
15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - $450 Million
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Season Statistics: 31.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Superstar point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an unbelievable season by posting ridiculous numbers and making the All-NBA Second Team in his first All-Star season. One of the most athletic players in the world, Shai was unstoppable on offense and the future is very bright for the player who was once a Los Angeles Clipper and is now the franchise superstar for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
At only 24 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander would be good enough to receive a deal that eclipses $400 million. The superstar guard is tremendously athletic and the fact that he can get to his spots with ease and also fly in the air means he would be the man to change the idea of basketball in the Middle East. Can one imagine what Gilgeous-Alexander could do when he is getting paid like this?
14. Devin Booker - $500 Million
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Season Statistics: 27.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Devin Booker has consistently been one of the best offensive players in the game and is easily a top-10 player in the world right now. The Phoenix Suns have added superstar Kevin Durant to the team, and that could actually open up Booker’s game even more next year. Booker had an exceptional regular season, posting 28.0 PPG, but his play was surreal in the playoffs as he averaged over 33.0 PPG.
Considering he is one of the best scorers in the NBA and is drawing comparisons to Kobe Bryant, Booker would receive a $500 million deal. The superstar offensive player can get any look he wants and the Phoenix Suns might have to accept their star leaving for Saudi Arabia if he was to ever receive what he is worth. Half of a billion dollars is suitable (in comparison to what the soccer players are making) because Devin is that elite.
13. Anthony Davis - $550 Million
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 25.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG
Anthony Davis, thanks to his dominance on both ends of the floor, is one of the best big men in the game. He is long, athletic, and extremely skilled, the second-main reason why the Lakers held onto a play-in seed and made it to the Western Conference Finals despite being under .500 for most of the year. Davis’ impact alongside LeBron James was truly impressive to witness all season long, even if the big man only played 53 games in the regular season.
Davis’ health is a major issue, and that is preventing the dominant big man from achieving greatness on the NBA court. But a chance to witness a near 7-foot big man with guard skills would be far too fascinating for the Saudis to ignore and he will demand a salary of around $550 million per season. Davis is truly a one-of-a-kind big man and he will receive a ridiculous financial offering because of that.
12. Jimmy Butler - $550 Million
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Season Statistics: 22.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Jimmy Butler is a top-20 player in the game in the regular season, but he becomes a top-5 player in the world in the playoffs. Even in games where Butler struggles, he will always come through in the clutch and create big plays for the Heat. Butler’s run in the playoffs might be unprecedented because he took out Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, Julius Randle and the New York Knicks, and the favorite Boston Celtics led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Butler is too great of a big-time player to not receive major money for the same amount as Anthony Davis. Jimmy’s play in the postseason is truly exceptional and his character is something that most sports fans resonate with. Even if he prefers to play defense than score, he would be a massive fan-favorite in the Middle East and he could earn $550 million considering his worth on a basketball game.
11. Ja Morant - $650 Million
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Season Statistics: 26.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 8.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Despite all the nonsense that Morant brought on himself, he is still a top-20 player in the world. No other point guard can dominate a game through raw athleticism and explosiveness as Morant can, and he has shown improvements in his playmaking ability as well. We are praying that Morant gets his head screwed on tightly because he has so much unrealized potential as a top-three-point guard in the game.
Based on the fact that Morant is the most exciting player in the world to watch in basketball, he will be worth $650 million. That’s right, Morant is exciting enough to demand over half a billion dollars as a 23-year-old. Morant flying in the air and dunking over helpless defenders would shatter the sports world in Saudi Arabia and nothing sells more than athletic players in the NBA.
10. Damian Lillard - $650 Million
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Season Statistics: 32.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Damian Lillard is one of the best offensive players in the world and he isn’t slowing down. When Dame is on fire and has his shot going, he might be the best point guard in the world. He is extremely dominant on the court and he has the killer mentality that is sorely lacking from a lot of great players today. Lillard once again put up monster numbers in a terrific season, posting over 30 PPG on over 46% from the field, 37% from three, and 91% from the stripe.
Clearly, Dame is a superstar and that means he would be worth $650 million for one year in Saudi Arabia. Seeing Dame pull up from half-court, attack the basket, and use his iconic “Dame Time” when he makes clutch shots would be the biggest story in Saudi Arabian sports. If this were to ever happen, Lillard would be foolish to reject a deal this large.
9. Kawhi Leonard - $700 Million
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Season Statistics: 23.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Even with the fact that the player cannot stay healthy for whatever reason, Kawhi Leonard is still an elite superstar in the NBA. When he is on the court, he is a winner. It really is that simple because the Claw leaves his best performances for the postseason and will hope to do the same with a very talented yet underperforming Clippers team next season. That is only if the Saudi Arabians don’t take a chance to bring him over.
If Leonard can stay healthy, he has an argument for being a top-5 player in the world because there might not be a better two-way perimeter player in the world. As a result, he is worth $700 million in terms of on-court talent and impact. Leonard’s “fun guy” demeanor and playing style similar to Michael Jordan is too interesting to pass on and he might have to consider a deal like this if it were to ever happen.
8. Jayson Tatum - $750 Million
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 30.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Jayson Tatum is a top-ten player in the world based on his skill set alone. He is an absolute force at the forward position, thanks to his ability to explode on offense. Tatum has range, a quick first step, and the ability to create any shot he wants. As the best player in Boston, Tatum has led the team to the second seed in the Eastern Conference and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Amazingly, Tatum will only get better because his offensive skill is through the roof. Based on this fact alone, Tatum will demand a deal that is around $750 million. The superstar forward is great enough to be the best player in any league when he is locked in, and being such a dominant scorer and skilled payer means the Saudi Arabians would be more than proud to have him in their country.
7. Luka Doncic - $800 Million
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Season Statistics: 32.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Luka Doncic has had an MVP-caliber season yet again. He carried a weak Mavericks team to a playoff spot at the start of the year and looked to be the franchise player for an immediate title contender in the West. The Slovenian led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals last year and will only get better when it comes to dominating the basketball court. How much would Luka be paid by Saudi Arabia?
Around $800 million for one year. In terms of all-around impact and offensive dominance, Luka is clearly a top-10 player in the world and there is no discussion there. He can score, rebound, pass, and make clutch shots against any team. Having the future face of the NBA won’t be cheap, but this chance to have the Slovenian on board would be too great to pass up for the Saudis.
6. Joel Embiid - $800 Million
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG
Joel Embiid had been absolutely sensational during the regular season and deserved the MVP award when taking into account that he led the NBA in scoring for the second-straight year while also dominating on defense. Perhaps we haven’t seen a center with Embiid’s skill before, as he has a perfect jumper along with a terrifying post-up game and shot-blocking ability.
The center averaged 33.1 PPG on 54.8% FG, 33.0% 3-PT FG, and 85.7% FT. Those are superstar numbers by the reigning league MVP, and that means he is worth $800 million by Saudi Arabian standards. The Cameroonian is truly an exceptional two-way center and he is worth this amount of money when soccer players are making major money in their own sport.
5. Nikola Jokic - $900 Million
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
There is no denying basketball belongs in Serbia because Nikola Jokic was the best player in the world this past season. Known for his incredible passing ability, which allows him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, we are seeing the epitome of the first-ever point center. Jokic's combination of scoring, passing, rebounding, and leadership makes him the best player in the world. Capping off a season in which he finished runner-up to his third straight MVP award with an NBA title and Finals MVP is simply unbelievable.
As exceptional as the Serbian was during the regular season, his play took a different level in the playoffs. In other words, Jokic is the best player in the world right now, even if he isn’t the most entertaining to watch by any means. Since Saudi Arabia wants to have the best of the best, Jokic could demand almost $1 billion to play basketball for a year. Jokic should get paid if other players are receiving major money, and he has to accept as well.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo - $900 Million
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Season Statistics: 31.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG
The Greek Freak is a top-three player in the game and might be the best when taking into account his play on both ends of the court. He is simply phenomenal and led the Bucks to the best record in the East again. Not to mention, he is a true freak in terms of athleticism and it is beyond interesting to watch him play the game of basketball. Despite being extremely skilled, Antetokounmpo’s athleticism is what people will pay to see.
As a result, if Giannis were to receive an offer from Saudi Arabia, it would be close to $1 billion. He is dominant enough and will sell enough tickets to warrant such a hefty fee. The Greek Freak would likely become the most popular athlete in the world if he were to join Saudi Arabia because the fans and media would fall in love with his physical talents, dominance on the court, and approachable demeanor.
3. Kevin Durant - $1 Billion
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 29.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Kevin Durant, when healthy, is right in the conversation for being a top-3 player in the league. What separates Durant from the other top-five players in the game is the forward’s inability to stay healthy in recent years, and he has struggled again this season, appearing only in 46 games. Despite that, the superstar forward is a once-in-a-generation talent, and watching him score over helpless defenders time and time again would be incredible for Middle Eastern fans.
Since he is a top-5 scoring talent in the history of basketball, Durant will be one of the select few to demand $1 billion to play for one season. The superstar forward’s shooting ability and shot creation might be second to none for a player of his size, and he would be the face of basketball in the world if he were to receive an offer from Saudi Arabia.
2. Stephen Curry - $1 Billion
Credit: David Butler II/USA Today Sports
Season Statistics: 29.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The best shooter ever, Stephen Curry, is the best point guard in the NBA and there isn’t an argument for anyone else right now. Curry has changed the game, won four NBA titles, and is a two-time MVP, so his legacy is forever secured. Perhaps most importantly, Steph has changed the game and is the most lovable character in basketball. Even if basketball isn’t known in the Middle East as widely as in North America, Curry is a name on everybody’s mind.
As a fan favorite with a character that fits into the country’s morals, Curry would be a mega-star in Saudi Arabia. His ridiculous three-point shooting and ability to pull up from anywhere on the court means he would demand an unbelievable $1 billion for a one-year contract. Curry does not need money, considering he has made over $250 million in career contract earnings alone. However, to be the biggest star in sports in a new country, anything would be possible.
1. LeBron James - $1.5 Billion
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Season Statistics: 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
LeBron James had an extremely impressive regular season, breaking Karem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record and averaging impressive all-around stats at 38 years old. Not to mention, James kept the Lakers afloat before Rob Pelinka added key players before the trade deadline and made a push to the Western Conference Finals after. Without James, the Lakers would not have made the play-in tournament. That shows how The King is still a top-5 player in the world, no matter what anyone says.
Most importantly, no other sports star, perhaps outside of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, demands more media attention and obsessed following than LeBron James. LeBron is simply a fascinating human being with the way he plays the game and creates storylines everywhere he goes. Because of that, and the fact he is easily a top-5 player of all time, James would demand over $1 billion to play in Saudi Arabia. The King would literally be the king of the sports world, and that might actually help his GOAT case.
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