At least 18 male college basketball players will earn more than LeBron James next season.
The last time that was true? Try the 2002-03 season when James was a senior at St. Vincent-St. was. Mary High in Akron, Ohio. Technically, every college student on a scholarship “earned” more than James did at the time, although prominent players received more than just room, board and tuition long before the current era of million-dollar salaries.
It’s safe to say that James’ rookie salary of just over $4 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003-2004 season was much higher than that of any other college player – discreet pockets full of cash and keys to an SUV leased to an uncle were no match for NBA contracts. But James will make a career-low $3.8 million with the Philadelphia 76ers next season, his 24th in the NBA, putting him behind nearly 20 college players.
How many college basketball players will make more money than LeBron?
That’s a big jump from last season, when only a handful of college players were in the $4 million range or higher, although AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer led an all-time freshman class. But despite the criticism from the coaches, the upper limit continues to rise.
At least part of this increase in spending is due to some of the players returning to college who could have been drafted, leading college programs to effectively “bid” against the NBA’s rookie salary scale to lure them back to campus.
Former Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance, selected 20th overall in June’s NBA draft, was the de facto demarcation line in that regard. The 6-foot-3 man is expected to earn $3.9 million as a rookie with the San Antonio Spurs – slightly more than what the four-time MVP will take home with Philadelphia.
Florida’s Thomas Haugh is expected to become the highest-paid player in college basketball next season after withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft despite being projected as a first-round pick. Matt Norlander of CBS reported that Haugh’s earnings this season with the Gators could top $10 million, which is more than double what James will earn.
After speaking to several college coaches, general managers and NBA scouts who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect competitive interests, we know that these 18 players will all earn at least $3.9 million as members of their respective teams.
| player | position | team | Transfer portal ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
Aiden Sherrell | Forward | No. 20 | |
David Punch | Forward | No. 7 | |
Flora Bidunga | center | No. 1 | |
Jackson Shelstad | Guard | No. 9 | |
John Blackwell | Guard | No. 3 | |
JT Toppin | Forward | Back to the team | |
Juke Harris | Guard | No. 2 | |
Massamba Diop | center | No. 29 | |
Milan Momcilovic | Forward | No. 4 | |
Moustapha Thiam | center | No. 13 | |
Nikola Kusturica | Forward | Freshmen | |
PJ Haggerty | Guard | No. 8 | |
Samet Yigitoglu | center | No. 51 | |
Ms. Sananda | center | No. 39 | |
Thomas Haugh | Forward | Back to the team | |
Tounde Yessoufou | Guard | No. 5 | |
Tyran Stokes | Guard | Freshmen | |
Zoom Diallo | Guard | No. 45 |
That’s a lot of college hoopers – some of whom may never make a name for themselves in the NBA, all of whom are doomed not to match James’ greatness – whose contracts will pay them more than James next season.
And that’s not all they know about him. None of them were born on June 26, 2003, the day they were drafted.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7468640/2026/07/25/lebron-james-salary-nba-college-basketball-nil/
