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Money Matters - They’re at the top of their game and the top of Forbes magazine’s most recent rankings of the 10 highest-earning NBA players. While last year’s lockout and shortened NBA season ate in to players’ paychecks, the following 10 ballers still managed to rake in the dough in terms of total earnings (salary, plus endorsements) this past season.—Britt Middleton (Photo: Mark Scott/Getty Images)

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#1 Kobe Bryant - Kobe Bryant’s total earnings this past year came in at a whopping $53.2 million, which includes his current three-year, $84 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and another $28 million from endorsement deals with Nike, Smart Car and others. One thing not accounted for is his impending divorce from wife Vanessa. The couple reportedly didn’t have a prenuptial agreement. (Photo: Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

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#2 LeBron James - While LeBron James is focused on his championship run with the Miami Heat, one thing King James doesn’t have to worry about is money. In the past season, he brought in $49 million, including $33 million in endorsements, though he only made $16 million for actually playing basketball. (Photo: Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

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#3 Dwight Howard - Dwight Howard’s total earnings were $28.9 million, which includes his $17.9 million salary with the Orlando Magic and $11 million from sponsors such as Adidas and McDonald’s. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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#4 Dwyane Wade - Dwyane Wade made $27.7 million this season. Wade made a comfortable $15.7 million to play for the Miami Heat last season. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Photo By Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

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#5 Carmelo Anthony - There’s nothing “mellow” about New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony’s annual earnings, which reached $26.5 million, including a three-year, $61 million contract with the Knicks and $8 million in endorsements. (Photo: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

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#6 Amar'e Stoudemire (Tie) - Amar'e Stoudemire made a total of $26.2 million this past season. The newly engaged star of the New York Knicks signed a five-year, $100 million deal with the team in 2010. The rest of this past season’s earnings came from a five-year endorsement with Nike signed last summer. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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#6 Kevin Garnett (Tie) - Kevin Garnett has proved he’s still a beast on the court, but not to be undervalued is the Boston Celtics star’s earning potential. Tied with Amar’e Stoudemire at No. 6, the Boston Celtics star scooped up $26.2 million in total earnings, with $5 million coming from endorsement deals. (Photo: EPA/JUSTIN LANE /LANDOV)

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#8 Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant brought in $24.5 million this past season. His five-year, $85 million contract with the Thunder is the first in team history, plus he pulls in $9 million annually from Nike. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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#9 Tim Duncan - Tim Duncan, a four-time NBA Champion, raked in $23.3 million last season, including $2 million in endorsements. His most recent two-year, $40 million contract with the Antonio Spurs expires July 1, but the NBA great has said he’s ready to commit with the Spurs for the rest of his career. (Photo: Brett Deering/Getty Images)

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#10 Chris Paul - In the last season, Chris Paul pulled in $22.4 million, which includes a $16.4 million annual salary with the Los Angeles Clippers and $6 million in endorsement deals from the Jordan Brand, Nike, Powerade and others. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)