NBA 2017-18: Stephen Curry and LeBron James lead highest paid players list

#9 James Harden - Houston Rockets

James Harden

Contract Details: 4-years and $118 million

Salary in 2017-18: $28,299,399

There's no disputing James Harden's value to his team or the league overall. Runner-up for the MVP award last season, Harden is in the second year of a four-year extension he signed last summer. It must be noted that the fourth and final year (for which Harden had a player-option) has been voided with the new extension he signed this past offseason.

The new contract is a 4-year 162 million dollar extension, which kicks in from the 2019-20 season. Keeping him in Houston till 2023, the franchise has surely decided to make all their championship contending plans for the next few years around this dynamic left-handed combo guard.