The Highest Paid Players in NBA History

In Major League Baseball, one star alone can’t carry a team to the playoffs—just ask Mike Trout. The same holds true in the NHL. And while a star quarterback is crucial in the NFL, depth and overall team strength can still lead to championships—just look at Nick Foles’ Super Bowl run.

But in the NBA? Titles without true superstars are rare. Even with a maximum salary cap in place, the league’s biggest names still command a massive share of the financial pie.

With NBA careers lasting longer than ever and the league generating record-breaking revenue, some players have built astonishingly lucrative careers. Below, we break down the rankings of the highest-paid NBA players, with contract data courtesy of Spotrac.

Largest NBA Contracts

1. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (5 years, $313,933,410)

Years: 2025-29 AAV: $62,786,682 Signing Age: 26

Timing is everything when it comes to landing the biggest free-agent deals, as the NBA’s maximum salary is directly tied to the league’s revenue. The stronger the league’s financial health, the higher the max salary—and business has been booming for years.

Additionally, players who stay with the team that drafted them (or the team that acquired them within their first four seasons) and meet certain award criteria are eligible for an even larger contract extension, known as the SuperMax. This rule allowed Jayson Tatum, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, to sign the largest contract in league history.

Just weeks before inking his record-breaking deal on July 1, 2024, Tatum had led the Celtics to their 18th championship and earned his third consecutive All-NBA First Team selection. With those credentials, it’s no surprise Boston was willing to commit to him with the biggest contract the league has ever seen.

2. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (5 years, $285,393,640)

Years: 2024-28 AAV: $57,078,728 Signing Age: 26

Another third overall pick by the Celtics at just 19 years old, Jaylen Brown briefly held the title for the largest contract in NBA history when he signed his SuperMax deal with Boston in the summer of 2023. His eligibility for the extension came after earning his first All-NBA selection during the 2022-23 season.

Some fans questioned the contract, given that Brown had only been a two-time All-Star in seven NBA seasons at the time. However, the Celtics have long valued his elite athleticism, defensive prowess, and steady offensive improvement—particularly his enhanced shooting. Beyond his on-court impact, Boston also recognized Brown’s leadership and community efforts, further solidifying their commitment to him.

In 2023-24, Brown proved he was worth every penny, playing a pivotal role in the Celtics’ championship run and earning both Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP honors.

3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (5 years, $276,122,630)

Years: 2023-27 AAV: $55,224,526 Signing Age: 27

As one of the most dominant big men in NBA history—excelling in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking—it was no surprise that the Nuggets handed Nikola Jokić what was then the largest contract in league history. His unique ability to control games with both his scoring and passing earned him back-to-back MVP awards in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

With the chance to secure one of the game's premier talents long-term, Denver wasted no time offering Jokić the SuperMax extension. Now a three-time MVP and former Finals MVP, he remains one of the highest-paid players in the league, continuing to be the heart of the Nuggets’ championship aspirations.

4. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards (5 years, $251,019,650)

Years: 2022-26 AAV: $50,203,930 Signing Age: 29

It may come as a surprise that Bradley Beal ranks fourth in total contract value, but his timing and loyalty to the team that drafted him played a crucial role in securing such a lucrative deal.

While Beal has been an elite scorer, he’s never been in the MVP conversation, drawing comparisons to Mike Conley’s brief stint as the highest-paid player in NBA history after signing a massive contract in 2016—a mark that was soon surpassed by dozens of others.

Beal’s spot on this list is likely temporary, as future contracts will surpass his. Still, as a three-time All-Star and an All-NBA selection in 2020-21, he’s certainly earned his place among the league’s highest earners.

T-5. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (5 years, $244,623,120)

Years: 2024-28 AAV: $48,924,624 Signing Age: 21

While Anthony Edwards has already proven himself as one of the NBA’s premier talents, the most striking aspect of his contract is his signing age—just 21 years old. The Timberwolves saw enough in his first three seasons to confidently offer him this massive extension in the summer of 2023.

By earning a spot on the All-NBA Second Team in 2023-24, Edwards elevated his deal from a standard max contract to a SuperMax, pushing its total value to nearly $245 million before it even took effect in the 2024-25 season. Whether this gamble will pay off remains to be seen, but with an elite roster built around him, Minnesota is banking on Edwards leading them into title contention for years to come.

T-5. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (5 years, $244,623,120)

Years: 2024-28 AAV: $48,924,624 Signing Age: 23

Tyrese Haliburton signed an identical extension to Anthony Edwards in the summer of 2023, catapulting him into the ranks of the most lucrative contracts in NBA history. Like Edwards, he earned his first All-NBA selection in the 2023-24 season, triggering the jump from a max contract to a SuperMax deal.

Both young stars justified their massive extensions by leading their teams to conference finals appearances in 2024. Now, Haliburton and the Pacers will look to build on that momentum, with hopes of bringing an NBA title to Indianapolis during his five-year deal.

Highest Career Earnings

1. LeBron James ($479,466,457)

The King remains The King.

LeBron James has been worthy of a max contract longer than any player in NBA history, cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time. Across stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, he has comfortably earned the most career money of any NBA player—all while maintaining his elite level of play.

With no signs of slowing down, James continues to dominate both on the court and in the record books—including the financial ones.

2. Kevin Durant ($396,705,024)

Like LeBron, Kevin Durant has been one of the NBA’s elite talents since the moment he stepped onto the court.

Durant began his career at 19 with the Seattle SuperSonics in their final season before relocating to Oklahoma City. After nine years with the Sonics/Thunder franchise, he hit unrestricted free agency in 2016—just as a massive salary cap spike allowed him to sign a lucrative deal with the Golden State Warriors, a team that wouldn’t have had the cap space for a max free agent under normal circumstances.

Following three successful years in Golden State, Durant moved on to join Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets before landing with the Phoenix Suns. With each stop, his max contracts have continued to propel him up the all-time earnings list.

3. Chris Paul ($389,909,419)

Like James and Durant, Chris Paul has suited up for multiple teams throughout his career—but no matter where he’s gone, the money has followed.

Defying expectations for smaller point guards, Paul has consistently elevated his teams with his leadership and playmaking. While some believed his best days were behind him after stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, he proved them wrong by revitalizing the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns. Now, he looks to bring that same impact to the San Antonio Spurs.

The "Point God" remains one of the league’s highest earners, continuing to command star-level contracts.

4. Stephen Curry ($354,721,977)

Durant’s former Warriors teammate also earns a spot on this list. Despite battling early career ankle injuries and signing a team-friendly deal—earning just $44 million over four years while winning back-to-back MVP awards—Stephen Curry has more than made up for it with lucrative contracts in the latter half of his career.

Given the Warriors’ sustained success with Curry as their centerpiece, every deal he’s signed has been the definition of a win-win.

5. Russell Westbrook ($340,265,800)

Another former teammate of Durant joins this list (with James Harden narrowly missing the cut!). The bulk of Russell Westbrook’s earnings came during his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he secured an $86 million max deal and went on to win an MVP. He later signed a designated veteran extension worth over $206 million, only to be traded by the Thunder a year later.

The remainder of that massive contract was paid by the Rockets, Wizards, and Lakers, as Westbrook continued his journey around the league, later suiting up for the Clippers and Nuggets.