Jun 22, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; The 2023 NBA draft class poses for photos on stage before the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
We can argue all day about what the best draft class ever was, with some people saying 1984, others 1996, and some others 2003.
But when it comes to money, the answer is pretty clear-cut: the 2011 draft class, which features max players like Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler, ranks No. 1 in terms of career earnings in NBA history.
That is due to change in the future with salaries continuing to grow and more recent draft classes entering their prime. But it's going to take a while since the 2011 players have already made $3.5 billion and will continue to cash in big bucks in the following years.
You can check the all-time ranking with the top earners from each class below.
1. 2011 draft class: $3.515 billion
Mar 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Top earners:
Kawhi Leonard ($279,265,838)
Kyrie Irving ($274,811,186)
Klay Thompson ($269,552,761)
Jimmy Butler ($263,884,588)
Tobias Harris ($251,084,872)
2. 2008 draft class: $3.420 billion
Nov 10, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) controls the ball in the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Russell Westbrook ($342,672,250)
Kevin Love ($272,362,518)
Danilo Gallinari ($205,014,876)
Nicolas Batum ($199,548,957)
Brook Lopez ($197,774,768)
3. 2009 draft class: $3.201 billion
Nov 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) nearing the end of the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Stephen Curry ($357,844,681)
James Harden ($340,720,428)
Blake Griffin ($261,338,564)
Jrue Holiday ($259,395,951)
DeMar DeRozan ($258,605,770)
4. 2012 draft class: $2.840 billion
Oct 14, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) warms up before game against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Damian Lillard ($281,211,087)
Bradley Beal ($269,568,863)
Anthony Davis ($268,301,708)
Khris Middleton ($225,638,155)
Harrison Barnes ($183,981,290)
5. 2014 draft class: $2.815 billion
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Top earners:
Joel Embiid ($215,298,426)
Nikola Jokic ($198,343,831)
Andrew Wiggins ($196,890,649)
Zach LaVine ($164,808,017)
Aaron Gordon ($135,976,550)
6. 2013 draft class: $2.681 billion
Nov 13, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates after scoring during overtime against the Detroit Pistons at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($236,092,616)
Rudy Gobert ($217,520,609)
CJ McCollum ($217,115,909)
Steven Adams ($159,360,004)
Otto Porter ($140,520,040)
7. 2003 draft class: $2.659 billion
Nov 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after a 3-point basket in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Top earners:
LeBron James ($482,593,428)
Chris Bosh ($242,110,053)
Carmelo Anthony ($240,843,702)
Dwyane Wade ($199,499,205)
David West ($93,047,916)
8. 1996 draft class: $2.519 billion
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court in the first half of Game Five of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on June 15, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Top earners:
Kobe Bryant ($328,237,108)
Ray Allen ($184,356,410)
Jermaine O'Neal ($168,794,021)
Allen Iverson ($154,494,445)
Stephon Marbury ($151,115,945)
9. 2007 draft class: $2.513 billion
Nov 8, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Kevin Durant ($405,940,020)
Al Horford ($279,728,232)
Mike Conley ($276,581,596)
Marc Gasol ($185,786,591)
Thaddeus Young ($149,729,113)
10. 2001 draft class: $2.512 billion
DENVER - NOVEMBER 11: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers stretches prior to facing the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 11, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Lakers 118-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Top earners:
Pau Gasol ($219,784,441)
Joe Johnson ($217,468,696)
Zach Randolph ($199,124,765)
Tyson Chandler ($189,644,026)
Tony Parker ($168,282,460)
11. 2005 draft class: $2.352 billion
Oct 15, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles the basketball against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Chris Paul ($390,177,385)
Deron Williams ($152,027,631)
Andrew Bogut ($118,591,363)
Marvin Williams ($109,771,071)
Monta Ellis ($104,008,681)
12. 2010 draft class: $2.307 billion
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 14: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on October 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Top earners:
Paul George ($307,094,937)
John Wall ($276,580,866)
Gordon Hayward ($270,922,778)
Derrick Favors ($131,217,769)
Eric Bledsoe ($130,640,553)
13. 1998 draft class: $2.293 billion
Apr 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the game against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Top earners:
Dirk Nowitzki ($255,371,800)
Paul Pierce ($200,708,312)
Vince Carter ($186,916,012)
Rashard Lewis ($155,332,815)
Antawn Jamison ($142,545,596)
14. 2004 draft class: $2.117 billion
Apr 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Top earners:
Dwight Howard ($245,838,349)
Andre Iguodala ($189,621,801)
Luol Deng ($168,520,376)
Al Jefferson ($136,519,285)
Trevor Ariza ($118,962,219)
15. 2016 draft class: $2.069 billion
Oct 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) before playing against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Top earners:
Ben Simmons ($163,525,665)
Brandon Ingram ($146,060,485)
Pascal Siakam ($143,310,656)
Jamal Murray ($136,747,506)
Jaylen Brown ($134,805,457)
16. 2015 draft class: $2.060 billion
Oct 30, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Karl-Anthony Towns ($183,973,035)
Kristaps Porzingis ($176,903,094)
Devin Booker ($168,166,165)
D'Angelo Russell ($157,651,171)
Myles Turner ($120,507,934)
17. 1999 draft class: $2.027 billion
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 10: Elton Brand #42 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the New Jersey Nets at Prudential Center on April 10, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)
Top earners:
Elton Brand ($169,209,324)
Baron Davis ($147,692,983)
Shawn Marion ($134,936,762)
Manu Ginobili ($129,539,615)
Lamar Odom ($115,967,658)
18. 2006 draft class: $1.872 billion
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 26: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after being called for a foul against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at AT&T Center on December 26, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Top earners:
Kyle Lowry ($275,157,919)
LaMarcus Aldridge ($215,090,968)
Paul Millsap ($193,541,787)
Rudy Gay ($184,599,665)
JJ Redick ($118,345,008)
19. 2018 draft class: $1.803 billion
Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Top earners:
Luka Doncic ($109,636,871)
Deandre Ayton ($103,763,098)
Trae Young ($103,695,271)
Jaren Jackson Jr ($85,336,927)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($81,265,732)
20. 2017 draft class: $1.796 billion
Nov 24, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
