Shaq Tops List Of 10 Highest-Paid In NBA

Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, who earns a league-high salary of $17.1 million, headed the list of the 10 highest-paid players in the NBA this season, according to a recent USA Today article.

O'Neal, the leading candidate for Most Valuable Player, ranks No. 1 in the NBA in scoring (29.5) and field-goal percentage (.574). The 7-foot-1, 315-pound center is third in the league in rebounds (13.6) and blocked shots (3.11), and ranks sixth in minutes per game (40.0).

Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves is the No. 2 highest-paid player, earning $16.6 million, the paper reported. The 6-foot-11 forward ranks ninth in the NBA in points (23.2), fourth in rebounds (11.9), fifth in minutes (40.1) and 13th in field-goal percentage (.501).

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Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning, the third highest-paid, makes $15.1 million. The 6-foot-10 player leads the league in blocked shots (3.80) and ranks third in field-goal percentage (.545). Mourning is 14th in points (22.1) and 10th in rebounds (9.6).

Sharing the No. 4 and 5 spots with $15.0 million in earnings this season are Juwan Howard of the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks' Patrick Ewing, USA Today reported. Howard, the 6-foot-9 forward, and Ewing, the 7-foot center, were not league leaders in any category.

Portland Trail Blazers' 6-foot-7 forward Scottie Pippen ranks No. 6 among the highest-paid players with $14.8 million, and 7-foot center Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets, who has been injured or ill for the bulk of the season, came in at the No. 7 spot with $14.3 in earnings.

Rounding out the top 10 are Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone at No. 8 with $14.0 million, San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson at No. 9 with $13.0 million, and New Jersey Nets center Jayson Williams at No. 10 with $12.4 million.

Malone, the 6-foot-9 forward, ranked fourth in the league in scoring (26.0), ninth in field-goal percentage (.509) and 10th in the NBA in rebounds (9.6). Spurs' 7-foot Robinson is sixth in blocked shots (2.30), seventh in field-goal percentage (.510) and 10th in rebounds (9.6). Nets' 6-foot-10 Williams has been out this season due to injury.