The NBA has gone from a tape-delay to a global phenomenon in the span of just a few decades. What was once a poverty league now regularly pays its top stars upwards of $50 million a year. As the years have gone on, television deals have ratcheted up, and so has the asking price for NBA superstars.
Keeping that in mind, let’s examine the players earning the highest salaries in the NBA currently.
Highest-Paid NBA Players
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors | $55,781,216
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers | $51,415,938
- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets | $51,415,938
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns | $51,179,021
- Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns | $50,203,930
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers | $49,350,000
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns | $49,205,800
- Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers | $49,205,800
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks | $49,205,800
- Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics | $49,205,800
- Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat | $48,798,677
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks | $48,798,676
- Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks | $48,798,676
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers | $48,728,845
- Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings | $44,531,940
- Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves | $43,827,587
- Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks | $43,219,440
- Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers | $43,031,940
- Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks | $43,031,940
- Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets | $42,846,615
- Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz | $42,716,400
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves | $42,716,400
- Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers | $42,716,000
- Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers | $42,716,000
- Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks | $41,000,000
Largest Expiring Contracts in the NBA
- Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat | $48,798,677 (Player Option for 2025-26 season)
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers | $48,728,845 (Player Option for 2025-26 season)
- Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets | $42,846,615 (Team Option for 2025-26 season)
- Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks | $41,000,000 (Player Option for 2025-26 season)
Most of the top-end talent in the league is signed to their teams for a minimum of two seasons. However, for these four players, there are options available for how they want to proceed with their careers.
Jimmy Butler, thanks to the saga with the Miami Heat, is certainly not signing an extension or picking up his option unless traded.
LeBron James’ case is a curious one. While retirement is on the table, the addition of Luka Dončić has many believing that he could extend his playing career with another elite playmaker now lessening his offensive burden.
The rapid-fire success that the Rockets have found under head coach Ime Udoka has fast-tracked their way to championship contention. While Fred VanVleet is a valuable contributor on the squad, his nearly $45 million price tag next season might be better suited for the Rockets to aim at other free agents or approach trades with.
Kyrie Irving might be in no man’s land. With the rather controversial decision by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison to trade Dončić, he’s banking on the pairing of Irving and Davis to deliver the city a title. Yet, Irving could opt out of his deal unless he gets a significant enough extension.
Highest NBA Career Earners
- LeBron James | $479.47 million
- Kevin Durant | $396.71 million
- Chris Paul | $389.91 million
- Stephen Curry | $354.72 million
- Russell Westbrook | $340.27 million
- James Harden | $337.3 million
- Kevin Garnett | $334.3 million
- Kobe Bryant | $323.31 million
- Paul George | $305.33 million
- Shaquille O’Neal | $286.34 million
As is rather obvious, the list of the NBA’s highest career earners is dominated by the modern-day greats. With players’ salaries increasing exponentially, expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future.
Only Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O’Neal make the list as a relatively older player, thanks to their incredibly long careers in the NBA. All three played near or exactly 20 seasons, accumulating a massive amount of wealth for themselves.
However, to put into perspective modern-day contracts, Jayson Tatum’s latest extension was worth $314 million over a five-year period, which would directly put him above both George and O’Neal on this list.
Similarly, prior to the trade with the Lakers, Dončić’s next extension would have given him $345 million, which alone would have put him at No. 5 on this list. As the NBA continues to expand and the salary cap keeps going up at an unprecedented rate, expect this list to constantly be revised.
