By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the new highest-paid sports team in the world, with players making an average of $9.3 million during the 2017-18 season.
This is according to the annual “Global Sports Salaries Survey,” published by Sporting Intelligence. The study looks at the first-team pay for 348 teams across seven different sports in 18 different leagues around the world.
Of the 25 highest-paid teams in the world, 19 are from the NBA:
19. Los Angeles Lakers — $6.81 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Brook Lopez ($22.6 million)
2016 rank: 31
18. Denver Nuggets — $6.97 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Paul Millsap ($30.8 million)
2016 rank: 46
17. Memphis Grizzlies — $7.26 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Mike Conley ($28.5 million)
2016 rank: 7
16. Utah Jazz — $7.34 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Rudy Gobert ($21.2 million)
2016 rank: 39
15. Washington Wizards — $7.35 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Otto Porter ($24.8 million)
2016 rank: 15
14. Minnesota Timberwolves — $7.42 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Jeff Teague ($19.0 million)
2016 rank: 49
13. San Antonio Spurs — $7.55 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: LaMarcus Aldridge ($21.5 million)
2016 rank: 12
12. Milwaukee Bucks — $7.64 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($22.5 million)
2016 rank: 23
11. Houston Rockets — $7.78 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: James Harden ($28.3 million)
2016 rank: 29
10. Boston Celtics — $7.84 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Gordon Hayward ($29.7 million)
2016 rank: 32
9. Detroit Pistons — $7.85 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Andre Drummond ($23.8 million)
2016 rank: 17
8. Toronto Raptors — $7.85 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Kyle Lowry ($28.7 million)
2016 rank: 11
7. New Orleans Pelicans — $7.88 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Jrue Holiday ($24.9 million)
2016 rank: 25
6. Los Angeles Clippers — $8.33 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Blake Griffin ($29.5 million)
2016 rank: 3
5. Portland Trail Blazers — $8.36 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Damian Lillard ($26.2 million)
2016 rank: 6
4. Charlotte Hornets — $8.38 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Dwight Howard ($23.5 million)
2016 rank: 21
3. Golden State Warriors — $8.94 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Stephen Curry ($34.7 million)
2016 rank: 20
2. Cleveland Cavaliers — $9.00 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: LeBron James ($33.3 million)
2016 rank: 1
1. Oklahoma City Thunder — $9.30 million (average pay per player)
Highest-paid player: Russell Westbrook ($28.5 million)
2016 rank: 33
Here is the full list.