The 18 most shocking 76ers, NBA players and college basketball athletes making more than LeBron James in 2026

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The 18 most shocking 76ers, NBA players and college basketball athletes making more than LeBron James in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

LeBron James wasn't lying when he said he wanted to prioritize winning in free agency.

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While he could have made more money or played alongside closer friends elsewhere, James accepted a deal at the veteran's minimum to get a fresh start with a 76ers team that looks like it can compete to win the East.

At a salary of just $3.9 million next season, James is sacrificing in hopes of winning a championship. That sacrifice comes with an odd set of circumstances: by making less than $4 million, James' salary ranks behind more than 290 other NBA players. Even some of college basketball's highest-paid players are set to make more than James next season.

Here are the 18 most shocking 76ers, NBA and college basketball players now making more money than James.

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76ers making more than LeBron James

James is set to be the eighth highest-paid player on the 76ers, trailing every other starter and new addition Anfernee Simons, but also these two unlikely players:

Labaron Philon

  • Salary: $4.1 million

James' new teammate Labaron Philon has never stepped on an NBA floor, with the exception of the Summer League, but the No. 22 pick out of Alabama will come off the bench behind Tyrese Maxey making more than the 41-year-old legend at $4.1 million

Dean Wade

  • Salary: $9.7 million

A day before the 76ers acquired Jaylen Brown, it looked like their biggest acquisition would be former Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, who signed a four-year, $38.7 million deal. At just under $10 million per year, Wade will now be making more than double what James is making — even though James' arrival likely squeezes him out of the starting lineup.

Other NBA players making more than LeBron James

These players are among the more than 290 now making more than James on a per-year basis:

Joan Beringer, Timberwolves

  • Salary: $5.1 million

A 2025 first-round pick, Joan Beringer averaged just 7.9 minutes per game for the Timberwolves in his rookie season, but he will make $1.2 million more than James next season. After all, the Timberwolves made Beringer untouchable this offseason for a reason.

Sergio de Larrea, Mavericks

  • Salary: $4.1 million

When the Knicks drafted Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea, he wasn't even expected to come to the NBA this season. A draft night trade later sent him to Dallas, and de Larrea is NBA-bound immediately on a deal that will pay him $4.1 million per year — $200,000 more than the NBA's all-time points leader.

Ousmane Dieng, Bucks

  • Salary: $5.8 million

Former lottery pick Ousmane Dieng carved out a role for himself with the Bucks down the stretch and re-signed on a deal that will earn him $5.8 million annually, or nearly $2 million more than James, despite having only 22 NBA starts to his name.

Yang Hansen, Trail Blazers

  • Salary: $4.1 million

The Trail Blazers swung for the fences when they drafted Chinese big man Yang Hansen at No. 16 overall in 2025, and the results in year one just weren't there. Hansen played sparingly and struggled when given the opportunity, shooting just 31 percent on 100 shot attempts. Nevertheless, he makes $200,000 more than James.

Josh Minott, Nets

  • Salary: $4.5 million

Former second-round pick Josh Minott split last season between the Celtics and Nets, making the first 11 starts of his career in Boston and showing some 3-point prowess down the stretch in Brooklyn. Minott re-signed on a two-year, $9 million deal, a touch above James' two-year deal for $7.8 million.

Asa Newell, Hawks

  • Salary: $4.1 million

2025 No. 23 pick Asa Newell played limited minutes for the Hawks in year one, though he did average 5.2 points per game when given the opportunity. The former Georgia forward still has a long development curve ahead of him and a crowded roster to compete with, but he is now making $200,000 more than James.

Jayden Quaintance, Spurs

  • Salary: $4.7 million

The Spurs took a flier on Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance in June's draft, knowing the big man needed another knee surgery that will delay his debut. Quaintance tore his ACL at Arizona State and ran into difficulty during his recovery at Kentucky, limiting him to only four games with the Wildcats. It could be a "redshirt" season for Quaintance in San Antonio, but he's in line to make $800,000 more than James.

Nolan Traore, Nets

  • Salary: $4.6 million

One of five Nets first-round picks in 2025, Nolan Traore got some run on a rebuilding Brooklyn team as a rookie but battled efficiency issues, shooting only 38 percent from the floor. Traore will enter year two making $700,000 more than James.

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College basketball players making more than LeBron James

Most NIL deals for college basketball players are not publicly reported, so the number of players making more than James exceeds the players listed below. Still, here are eight players reportedly making more than the newest 76ers star:

Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky

Sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic pulled out of the NBA Draft knowing he could land a massive NIL package, and that's what he received from a desperate Kentucky program. The former Iowa State star is reportedly set to make $6 million this season, more than $2 million above James' salary.

Tounde Yessoufou, St. John's

Baylor's Tounde Yessoufou was lured out of the NBA Draft by St. John's with a deal that reportedly pays him $6 million. The 6-5 guard averaged 17.8 points per game as a freshman but likely would have been a second-round draft pick. Rather than make less than James as a second-rounder, he's making more as a collegiate star.

Flory Bidunga, Louisville

Former Kansas center Flory Bidunga was one of the top players in the portal and landed at Louisville, with the Cardinals dumping a reported $6 million on him and another hefty deal on Oregon's Jackson Shelstead.

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Florida successfully convinced Thomas Haugh to pass on the NBA Draft, where he likely would have been a late first-round pick, and instead gave him a reported $5 million. An All-American as a junior, Haugh will spend his sophomore year making more than an active NBA legend.

John Blackwell, Duke

Duke has a reported $20 million roster, and a significant portion of that is going to former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell. Blackwell averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a junior with the Badgers, shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point range. At $4 million, Blackwell's reported salary comes in a hair ahead of James.

Juke Harris, Tennessee

The transfer portal is a magical place, as Juke Harris turned one year leading a disappointing Wake Forest team into a reported $4 million from Tennessee. Harris averaged 21.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with the Demon Deacons, though he shot just 33.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Sananda Fru, Marquette

Sananda Fru will reportedly make more than James, naturally. The German-born former Louisville forward took advantage of a strong market for big men and landed a big NIL package from Marquette despite averages of just 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game with the Cardinals.

Samet Yigitoglu, Indiana

Former SMU center Samet Yigitoglu found himself in the same boat as Fru, landing a major deal from Indiana after posting 10.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his second season with the Mustangs. The Hoosiers might rather have James, but Yigitoglu will have to do for coach Darian DeVries.

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