Highest Paid Miami Heat Players

So who are the highest paid Miami Heat players? Cash-rich NBA team Miami Heat have some of the highest paid players in the world. The defending champions pay a whooping 80.64 million US Dollars in salaries to its players, the 3rd highest in the NBA. Only Brooklyn Nets (102.82 m USD) and New York Knicks (88.02 m USD) can afford to pay more than the Heats. On January 2014, Forbes magazine listed Miami Heat as the 7th most valuable NBA team. With three titles, LeBron James and Co. are valued at 770 million US Dollars. Here's the list:

#5. Mario Chalmers

Alaska born Mario Chalmers is ranked 5th on the list of highest paid Miami Heat players. The towering Chalmers was picked by Minessota Timberwolves at the 2008 NBA Draft, but was then traded off to Heat. The 28-year-old point guard now earns 4 million US Dollars in salary.

#4. Udonis Haslem

Heats veteran Udonis Haslem 2013/14 salary chart reads 4.34 million US Dollars. The Miami-born Haslem signed for Heats as an undrafted agent in 2003. With 2484 field goals in 715 outings, the power forward's heroics have been crucial in Miami Heats winning 3 NBA titles (in 2006, 2012 and 2013).

#3. Dwyane Wade

Wade is not just one of the most popular players at Miami Heat, but also overall in the NBA. The Chicago-born guard joined Miami Heat as their fifth pick at the 2003 NBA Draft. Since then the 6 feet 4 Wade has registered himself as a favourite amongst Miami fans. His number 3 jersey is one of the most sold Heat merchandise. The 2008 Olympics gold medallist earns 18.67 million US Dollars in salary. Wade has endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade and Hublot, and is ranked 23rd on Forbes magazine's list of highest paid athletes.

#2. Chris Bosh

Bosh along with LeBron and Wade forms the Big 3 of Miami Heat. Bosh also rakes in big bucks, earning an approximate 19.06 million Dollars in salary in 2014. Bosh made his mark at the Toronto Raptors, leading them to their first-ever division title in the 2006-07 season. He left the Raptors in 2010, as their all-time leader in points. The towering centre is ranked 75th on the list of Forbes magazine's highest paid athletes, and has lucrative sponsorship deals worth 2 million US Dollars with Nike and Foot Locker to boast.

#1. LeBron James

LeBron James' career has been studded with trophies, and also with financial riches. The 29-year-old forward will earn an estimated 19.06 million US Dollars in salary in 2014. After plying his trade for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2010, James shifted to Miami. Joining Heats as a free agent James was quick in winning over the fans at Miami. He was instrumental in Heat winning the 2012 and 2013 titles, also leading them to a 27-match winning streak in 2013. He has been crowned the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) on four occasions, joining a list of basketball legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. After including his numerous sponsorship deals, James was listed as the 3rd highest paid athlete in the world by Forbes magazine in 2011. He is the face of several high-profile brands like Nike, Coca Cola, McDonald's and Samsung. The 29-year-old also owns a stake in English football club Liverpool, owing to his ties with Fenway Sports Group, who own the Merseyside club. The NBA superstar earns 42 million US Dollars a year from endorsements. Not since former Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan roamed the courts has an NBA star collected so much from just endorsements.