Exploring how many homes top-paid NBA superstars can buy in their cities
Reportedly, among the world's Top 5 richest sports leagues, the NBA is a global phenomenon today. Enjoying popularity across all continents, the basketball pro league continues to expand its operations. The most recent case in point is the possibility of adding two more teams to their pool.
Not to mention the NBA Europe mega-project, which could reportedly begin as early as 2027. Thus, the NBA is in a comfortable space financially, which is also visible from the exorbitant salaries that players draw today, and rightly so. Without them and their star power, there is no basketball league.
Making millions off their rookie contracts, players have access to some of the best resources and facilities. On the other hand, the sudden influx of money also leads some to fulfill their materialistic needs, such as buying a house or a car, or even upgrading their standard of living.
Thus, one can only imagine the big bucks that the current top-paid players, such as Stephen Curry , Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic , rake in. Recently, the real estate search platform Zoocasa shared an interesting study comparing top NBA salaries with the number of homes they could buy.
Breaking down the salary-to-house ratio
Talking about the highest-paid players in the 2025-26 season, Stephen Curry leads the charge, drawing a reported $59 million this year. Representing the city of San Francisco, where the average house price is nearly $1.5 million, the two-time MVP could afford a total of 41 homes.
Unlike the highly expensive Bay Area, Joel Embiid, who's making an estimated $55 million this year, can purchase 136 homes in Philadelphia , where the cost of living is much lower. Nikola Jokic, who is drawing identical figures to Embiid, can buy 82 median-priced homes in Denver .
A Top 5 scorer of all-time, Kevin Durant will reportedly amass $54 million by the end of the 2025-26 season, which could fetch him as many as 156 houses in Houston . That said, the real estate "emperor" tag belongs to Evan Mobley , who can buy 190 homes in Cleveland with his $46 million salary. Considering that the average home price in the Ohio city is $243,000.
As a result, being the highest-paid player did not guarantee the highest real estate purchasing power as well, at least not in the same state. At the same time, the young generation needed to think beyond NBA salaries when it came to making money and not just stick to traditional routes like endorsements.
Beyond NBA salaries
There is no denying that the current crop of NBA talent is more financially aware than before, thanks to the plethora of information and resources available. But not every source can be reliable, making the filtration process further important. The need to surround themselves with the right minds is indeed crucial, especially in the long term.
Most of the top superstars today have diversified investment portfolios, venturing into sectors such as technology, the F&B industry, real estate, and entertainment. They could also follow the template of the three NBA billionaires: Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Magic Johnson.
It's no secret that the athletes have a limited shelf life, given the nature of their business. A primary reason why they should handle their finances effectively. At the same time, one does comprehend that it is easier said than done, especially for young talent who face countless distractions in the social media era. But it is a choice one has to make between temporary happiness and building an empire for generations to cherish.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
