NBA: Jeremy Lin, 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Contracts

NBA: 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Summer Contracts

November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21, right) dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

13 of 16

Jan 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

4. LeBron James

Leading off our four heavy hitters is LeBron James, who signed a two-year deal worth $46.9 million last summer — thought it was really only a one-year, $23 million extension since the second year has a player option that the King will surely opt out of this summer so he can re-sign for even more money as the NBA’s salary cap skyrockets to a projected $89 million.

Still, even with LeBron earning $23 million this year, there are few players more deserving of that hefty amount, especially given his importance to the Cleveland Cavaliers and finally bringing a title to “The Land.” The Warriors and Spurs look like heavy favorites over the Cavs right now, but ask any Cleveland fan if they give a s**t and they’ll tell you they’re just happy the King brought his throne back home.

LeBron is no longer an MVP frontrunner these days, averaging a mortal (for him) 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game on .504/.293/.710 shooting splits. But LeBron might mean more to his franchise than any player in the league right now, and even if there was never any doubt about where he was re-signing last summer, we can’t NOT include King James here somewhere.

Next: No. 3