Ranking the Salaries of NBA Stars Still Alive in the NBA Playoffs

NBA playoff teams are usually laden with stars, which means that their respective GMs spent a lot of cash to bring them in. Take a look at the Miami Heat, for example. Their "Big Three" make a combined $47.6 million and already have a trip to the NBA Finals on their resume.

Other teams, however, don't spend that much money for success. Case in point, the Indiana Pacers. For a team with just one real star, they've exceeded expectations in the grandest fashion.

With the playoffs winding down, let's have a look at some of the big stars remaining in the big dance and compare their salaries.

8. Russell Westbrook, $5,082,416

Westbrook is the epitome of a great scoring point guard, having averaged 23.6 points, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals this season. Still, at least for this season, he could make no more than what his rookie contract would allow.

Fortunately for him, rather than entering restricted free agency next year, he will remain in Oklahoma City and begin the first season of a five-year, $80 million extension he signed in January.

7. Danny Granger, $12,015,904

While talented, Granger is overrated. In this writer's opinion, he's little more than a scorer with an above average three-point shot.

Still, his value to the Pacers is undeniable. He averaged 18.7 points and five rebounds this season, shooting 38 percent from behind the line. Take him out of the lineup, and I'd be willing to bet that the Pacers wouldn't have made the playoffs on the back of center Roy Hibbert.

6. Tony Parker, $12.5 Million

As great as the Spurs teams of the past decade have been, Parker has been little more than a scorer in winning three championships with them. This season, however, he changed his approach.

After San Antonio's embarrassing early exit from last year's playoffs, the French point guard clearly worked on his passing game so as to avoid such a collapse again. As a result, he averaged a career best 7.7 assists this season and brought his team back to the Western Conference Finals.

If you ask me, he earned every penny of that $12.5 million.

5. Paul Pierce, $15,333,334

It's no secret that Pierce is one of the most clutch shooters and scorers in the game. Even at 34 years old, he managed to average 19.3 points and make 37 percent of his threes this season.

Needless to say, the Celtics will be relying on him to bring home a win in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

4. Kevin Durant, $15,506,632

Call me crazy, but I think that Durant is underpaid. 

He is the main reason the Thunder have gone from cellar dwellers to title contenders in just a few years and with his 28 points and eight rebounds per game this year, I'm honestly shocked that he didn't win the MVP award.

Take this guy out of the lineup, and title contention is instantly kissed goodbye.

3. Dwyane Wade, $15,691,000

Say what you want about the rest of the stars on the Heat, but the team will always belong to Wade. He's been there through the good times and the bad, so to say that he isn't the unquestioned leader is ridiculous.

That all being said, it's just plain shocking that he makes less than a certain teammate.

2. LeBron James, $16,022,050

The newly crowned three-time MVP had a great year in averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals. Still, he is without one thing that the lesser-paid Wade does have: a championship ring. That alone makes James worthy of less pay.

On top of that, take James out of the lineup, and Miami still has a pretty good team. Keep in mind, they also have Chris Bosh on the team (currently injured), who makes the same amount as James.

Seeing as how he isn't exactly what one would call the big man on campus in Miami, you have to wonder why he makes that much.

1. Tim Duncan, $21,164,619

Duncan recently turned 36 years old, and his regular season stats are indicative of his age.  On the year, the seven-footer averaged 15.4 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Still, his player efficiency rating was an incredible 22.60, just around three points less than that of Kevin Durant.

Throw in four championship rings, two MVP awards, 13 All-Star selections and some of the best leadership skills in the NBA, and it's clear as to why this former No. 1 pick makes more than any of the other stars remaining in the postseason.