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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Top earners:
Jayson Tatum ($121,128,660)
De’Aaron Fox ($115,627,847)
Donovan Mitchell ($106,743,301)
Bam Adebayo ($105,071,112)
Lonzo Ball ($92,076,274)
