Following $186,000,000 Extension, Has Giannis Antetokounmpo Surpassed LeBron James’ NBA Earnings?

King James walked into the NBA court in the 2003-04 season. Since then, he’s only had good things happen. Of course, there are a few itsy-bitsy nasties here and there. But compared to many of the NBA legends, James is the one with a clean nose. On the other hand, the Greek-Nigerian’s arrival wasn’t anything special. In fact, Giannis Antetokounmpo had many doubters over his slim and lanky frame. But the Bucks looked past his physical features and a good thing they did too.

So is it even possible? LeBron James has been in the game far longer than the relatively new Antetokounmpo. It certainly seems like a dead-end when you have to pick who has more NBA earnings. But for the sake of breaking it all down, let us take a look at what LeBron and Giannis make on the court.

Has the new contract extension made Giannis Antetokounmpo richer than the King?

Let us just take it one at a time. Let us start with Giannis Antetokounmpo. He started his NBA career in 2013 with the Milwaukee Bucks. On July 30, 2013, he signed a 4-year $8.62 million contract with the Bucks. Aside from the doubts over his body, his arrival also enabled him to be the youngest-ever NBA player to be drafted. He was just 18 years old at the time. From there, he started growing individually as well as with his team. By 2016, at 21 years, he recorded his first triple-double in a 108-101 win over the Lakers.

The same year also saw Giannis signing another 4-year $100 million rookie extension with the Bucks. By 2017, his annual salary was $22 million. 2016 was also the start of his growing achievements. The Greek Freak got his first All-Star. By 2020 December, he signed a 5-year $228 million designated maximum contract extension with Milwaukee, with a player option for 2025.

Most recently, he signed a $186 million contract extension with his Bucks team. Now, according to Spotrac, all of his NBA earnings will come to about $234 million. The latest extension can still change depending on cap alterations. So, for a player who has played all of 11 seasons, these earnings are a pretty solid one, wouldn’t you agree? Moving on.

Breaking down the King James’s NBA earnings

Aside from the whole Cleveland drama in his initial days, LeBron James doesn’t have many controversies to his name. Even that was, when looked back without all the emotional sentiment, a necessary action that gave rise to the ‘King’ James. Now if we were to look at the financial side of things, Bron’s first deal in itself was higher than Giannis. On July 3, 2003, he signed a 3-year $12.9 million (round it off and we have $13 million) contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His annual salary then was $4,018,290.

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After playing with the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014, he signed a 2-year $42.2 million contract with Cleveland. Post this, declining two offers set forward by the Cavaliers, James enters unrestricted free agency (2016) and signs a whopping $100 million 3-year contract with them. Talk about promotion.

In 2018, he made the biggest decision – joining the Los Angeles Lakers. The rest is history. And now, looking at the sum of his earnings, Spotrac gives us an estimated $479.4 million. While it’s clear that his major earnings do not come from his career, it is still a handsome amount.

Technically speaking, LeBron won in the NBA earnings comparison. But looking at it from a more in-depth view, Giannis’s NBA earnings hold more weight as compared to LeBron’s. In the 11 seasons that Giannis spent with Milwaukee, he earned approximately $234 million. Bron spent 11 seasons with the Cavs and the sum of that comes to around $170 million, give or take. He made more with the Lakers in just six seasons.

But then again, by the time he reached the Lakers, James had become King James. So, you get the picture.

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