NBA: From Steph Curry to KD, here are the highest paid players

The NBA 2019-20 regular season started on Wednesday, October 23 with Toronto Raptors registering a 130-122 win over New Orleans Pelicans and LA Clippers beating LA Lakers 112-102. The average salary of an NBA player this season is $7.7 million. Here are the top five highest-paid players for this NBA season.

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: $40.2 million

Stephen Curry signed a five-year contract worth $201.2 million with the team in 2017. The deal pays Curry an average salary of $40.2 million. As the annual value increases, the value will increase to $45 million by the year 2021. The former MVP has won three championships after joining the Warriors in 2015. 

2. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets: $38.5 million

Westbrook was acquired by the Houston Rockets in a trade with Oklahoma City Thunder in July this year. The player has previously signed a five-year contract extension with the previous team in 2017. The contract was worth $206.8 million. As the previous contract is signed, he is tied for the second-best annual salary for the NBA 2019-20 season.

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3. Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder: $38.5 million

This is the second year Chris Paul has tied himself with Westbrook for the highest-paid NBA players. This season, Paul and Westbrook will switch teams as both were traded in the mega-deal between Oklahoma City and Houston. Paul has a $159.7 million contract, which will expire in 2022.

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4. James Harden, Houston Rockets: $38.2 million

Harden signed a $171.1 million contract extension with Houston Rockets. He had signed the original contract in 2017. His old contract paid him an average salary of $29.5 million. This will be the former league MVP's 11th NBA season.

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5. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets: $38.2 million

Durant signed a $164.3 million with the Nets after leaving the Golden State in 2019 offseason. However, Durant will not be playing the season due to a torn Achilles tendon injury he got while playing the 2019 playoffs. The player will earn more than $42 million by 2023, which is the final year of his contract.

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