Why LeBron James didn't get the highest salary on the team until he was 30?

It was not until the age of 31 that LeBron James became the highest-paid player in the team he was playing for.

“The Chosen One” (the chosen one) is the title of LeBron James from before he entered the NBA tournament. Fans have been witnessing a top generation talent where LeBron James through 18 seasons. With expertise and widespread influence, LeBron is the player with the highest total salary of his career in the NBA.

Despite always being the biggest star in every team he plays for, LeBron James is not often the highest paid person. In contrast, the Lakers bigman had to spend 11 seasons receiving lower wages than his teammates before topping the salary fund at the age of 30. Besides, there was only one season where James was a high-paid player. best in the NBA.

Despite always being a top player, LeBron James had to wait until the age of 30 to receive the highest salary in the team

Despite receiving a very high salary for a rookie, LeBron James was only the 5th highest paid player at the Cavaliers in the early years of his career. The value of the first contract is completely understandable. An 18-year-old rookie like James at that time did not have specific contributions to the team, and $ 19 million for 4 years was a “huge” amount of money for LeBron James.

In the next contract, “The King” proved to be the biggest star in the Cavaliers. However, in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, striker Ben Wallace just moved to Cleveland was the player with the most salary. It was thought that the departure of Wallace would give James a salary advantage, but Shaquille O’Neal with the only season at the 2009-2010 Cavaliers was the “heir” to the throne from Wallace.

Ben Wallace and Shaquille O’Neal, two legendary strikers, have joined the Cleveland Cavaliers and become the team’s highest-paid player.

After two MVP titles in 2009 and 2010, LeBron James’ value has skyrocketed. He joined the Miami Heat to form a mighty trio with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade. However, James and Bosh’s contract with Miami is very similar in total salary as well as distribution over the years. In four seasons in the South Seas, LeBron James and Chris Bosh were equal paid players (Dwayne Wade slightly lower).

It was not until returning to Cleveland that LeBron James became the highest-paid player at the team. This is an extremely well deserved amount, especially when LeBron has brought home the only championship in the team’s history. In addition, LeBron James became the NBA’s highest-paid player for the first time in the 2016-17 season with $ 30,963,450.

Only when he returned to Cleveland did LeBron James become the team’s highest-paid player

James’ salary before becoming the team’s highest paid player (in 11 seasons):

2003-04: $4,018,920 (5th team)

2004-05: $4,320,360 (3rd team)

2005-06: $4,621,800 (5th team)

2006-07: $5,828,090 (team 5th)

2007-08: $13,041,250 (2nd overall team)

2008-09: $14,410,581 (2nd overall team)

2009-10: $15,779,912 (2nd team)

2010-11: $14,500,000 (equal to Chris Bosh)

2011-12: $16,022,500 (equal to Chris Bosh)

2012-13: $17,545,000 (equal to Chris Bosh)

2013-14: $19,067,500 (equal to Chris Bosh)

After 3 highest-paid seasons at the Lakers, LeBron James will cede this position to Russell Westbrook at NBA 2021/22. For most of his career, LeBron James was not too concerned about his place in the team’s salary chart. With a roster that has been greatly strengthened after the summer transfer window, James and the Lakers are ready for the upcoming season.