List of highest-paid NBA players by season

List of highest-paid NBA players by season

Stephen Curry, the highest-paid player in the NBA, attempting a jump shot in the 2010–11 NBA season.

The highest-paid NBA players by season has recently eclipsed $40 million. Wilt Chamberlain has the most seasons leading the league with 8. Michael Jordan holds the largest 1-year contract in NBA history, LeBron James is the highest career earner, and Stephen Curry is the highest season earner as well as the largest multi-year contract holder in NBA history.

During the 1946–47 season Joe Fulks was the highest paid player ($8,000) in the Basketball Association of America and Bob Davies was the highest paid player ($12,500) of the National Basketball League.

George Mikan became the first player to earn $15,000 per season in the 1948–49 season.

Wilt Chamberlain was the first player to receive $100,000 in the 1965–66 season. That same season, Bill Russell became just the second player to receive over $100,000.

Moses Malone & Bill Walton were the first players to earn $1 million in a season, they were paid exactly $1,000,000 in the 1979–80 season.

Larry Bird became the first player to earn $5 million or more with a salary of $7,070,000 in the 1991–92 season.

Magic Johnson became the first player to earn $10 million or more in the 94–95 season with a salary of $14,660,000.

Patrick Ewing became the first player to earn $15 million or more in the 95–96 season with a salary of $18,724,000.

Michael Jordan became the first NBA player to sign a contract worth over $20 million and $30 million in a season (1996–97) and earned $33,140,000 in the 1997–98 season, setting the record for the largest 1-year contract in NBA history, and held the overall record for over 20 years. Kobe Bryant became just the second player to eclipse $30 million when the 2013–14 season began. LeBron James became the third in the 2016–17 season.

Stephen Curry signed a record 5-year contract worth $201 million in 2017 with a starting payout of $34,682,550 in the 2017–18 season, setting a new single-season record in earnings. He became the first player to eclipse $40 million in the 2019–20 season. After signing a 4-year contract extension worth $215 million in 2021, Curry went on to become the first player to eclipse $50 million in the 2023–24 season and is expected to be the first NBA player to eclipse $60 million in the 2026–27 season, having signed a contract worth $62,587,158.

Starting from the 1984–85 NBA season, the NBA's first salary cap was introduced. The NBA salary cap is the maximum dollar amount each NBA team can spend on its players for the season. However, the NBA uses a "soft" salary cap, which allow NBA teams to exceed their allotted amount in order to sign players through significant "salary exceptions". The salary cap is determined during the offseason, but is liable to change.

An exception is necessary to sign a player for a contract that would exceed the salary cap threshold of the "soft cap". The Larry Bird exception, more commonly known as Bird Rights, allows teams to re-sign a current player only if he has played for that particular team for a minimum of three years. Another exception, known as the mid-level exception, allows for teams that are over the salary cap to sign one or more players as long as they do not exceed the total amount of the average NBA salary. Next, the bi-annual exception can be used by teams every other year to sign a free agent(s) for up to two years at an amount set by the NBA. Finally, the rookie player exception allows any NBA team to sign their first-round draft pick to a contract based upon a scale previously set forth by the NBA. Another option for teams would be to assign players to a league-assigned minimum salary contract for a maximum of two years.

Highest-paid player by season

List of highest-paid NBA players by season

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Player</th><th>Team</th><th>Salary</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1946–47</td><td>Joe Fulks</td><td>Philadelphia Warriors</td><td>$8,000</td></tr><tr><td>1947–48</td><td>George Mikan</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers</td><td>$12,500</td></tr><tr><td>1948–49</td><td>George Mikan</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers</td><td>$15,000</td></tr><tr><td>1949–50</td><td>$15,000</td></tr><tr><td>1950–51</td><td>George Mikan Harry Boykoff</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers Tri-Cities Blackhawks</td><td>$15,000</td></tr><tr><td>1951–52</td><td>George Mikan</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers</td><td>$15,000</td></tr><tr><td>1952–53</td><td>George Mikan</td><td>Minneapolis Lakers</td><td>$20,000</td></tr><tr><td>1953–54</td><td>$20,000</td></tr><tr><td>1955–56</td><td>Bob Cousy</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>$25,000</td></tr><tr><td>1956–57</td><td>$25,000</td></tr><tr><td>1957–58</td><td>$25,000</td></tr><tr><td>1958–59</td><td>$25,000</td></tr><tr><td>1959–60</td><td>Wilt Chamberlain</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>$30,000</td></tr><tr><td>1960–61</td><td>Wilt Chamberlain</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>$65,000</td></tr><tr><td>1961–62</td><td>$65,000</td></tr><tr><td>1962–63</td><td>$65,000</td></tr><tr><td>1963–64</td><td>$65,000</td></tr><tr><td>1964–65</td><td>$65,000</td></tr><tr><td>1965–66</td><td>Bill Russell</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>$100,001</td></tr><tr><td>1966–67</td><td>$100,001</td></tr><tr><td>1967–68</td><td>Bill Bradley</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>$125,000</td></tr><tr><td>1968–69</td><td>Wilt Chamberlain</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$250,000</td></tr><tr><td>1969–70</td><td>Wilt Chamberlain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor)</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>$250,000</td></tr><tr><td>1970–71</td><td>Pete Maravich</td><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>$380,000</td></tr><tr><td>1971–72</td><td>$380,000</td></tr><tr><td>1972–73</td><td>$380,000</td></tr><tr><td>1973–74</td><td>Ernie DiGregorio</td><td>Buffalo Braves</td><td>$500,000</td></tr><tr><td>1974–75</td><td>Ernie DiGregorio Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td><td>Buffalo Braves Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>$500,000</td></tr><tr><td>1975–76</td><td>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$650,000</td></tr><tr><td>1976–77</td><td>$650,000</td></tr><tr><td>1977–78</td><td>$650,000</td></tr><tr><td>1978–79</td><td>David Thompson</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>$800,000</td></tr><tr><td>1979–80</td><td>Moses Malone Bill Walton</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers</td><td>$1,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>1980–81</td><td>Julius Erving Moses Malone Bill Walton Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$1,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>1981–82</td><td>Otis Birdsong Julius Erving Moses Malone Bill Walton Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td><td>New Jersey Nets Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$1,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>1982–83</td><td>Moses Malone</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>$2,200,000</td></tr><tr><td>1983–84</td><td>$2,200,000</td></tr><tr><td>1984–85</td><td>Magic Johnson</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$2,500,000</td></tr><tr><td>1985–86</td><td>$2,500,000</td></tr><tr><td>1986–87</td><td>$2,500,000</td></tr><tr><td>1987–88</td><td>Patrick Ewing</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>$2,750,000</td></tr><tr><td>1988–89</td><td>$3,250,000</td></tr><tr><td>1989–90</td><td>$3,750,000</td></tr><tr><td>1990–91</td><td>$4,250,000</td></tr><tr><td>1991–92</td><td>Larry Bird</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>$7,070,000</td></tr><tr><td>1992–93</td><td>David Robinson</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>$5,720,000</td></tr><tr><td>1993–94</td><td>$5,740,000</td></tr><tr><td>1994–95</td><td>Magic Johnson</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$14,660,000</td></tr><tr><td>1995–96</td><td>Patrick Ewing</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>$18,724,000</td></tr><tr><td>1996–97</td><td>Michael Jordan</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>$30,140,000</td></tr><tr><td>1997–98</td><td>$33,140,000</td></tr><tr><td>1998–99</td><td>Patrick Ewing</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>$18,500,000</td></tr><tr><td>1999–00</td><td>Shaquille O'Neal</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$17,142,000</td></tr><tr><td>2000–01</td><td>Kevin Garnett</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>$19,600,000</td></tr><tr><td>2001–02</td><td>$22,400,000</td></tr><tr><td>2002–03</td><td>$25,200,000</td></tr><tr><td>2003–04</td><td>$28,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>2004–05</td><td>Shaquille O'Neal</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>$27,696,430</td></tr><tr><td>2005–06</td><td>$20,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>2006–07</td><td>Kevin Garnett</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>$21,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>2007–08</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>$23,751,934</td></tr><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>$24,751,934</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>$23,034,375</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>$24,806,250</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12</td><td>$25,244,493</td></tr><tr><td>2012–13</td><td>$30,453,805</td></tr><tr><td>2013–14</td><td>$30,453,805</td></tr><tr><td>2014–15</td><td>$23,500,000</td></tr><tr><td>2015–16</td><td>$25,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>2016–17</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>$30,963,450</td></tr><tr><td>2017–18</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>$34,682,550</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>$37,457,154</td></tr><tr><td>2019–20</td><td>$40,231,758</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>$43,006,362</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>$45,780,966</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>$48,070,014</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>$51,915,615</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>$55,761,216</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>$59,606,817</td></tr><tr><td>Upcoming Seasons (including Player Options)</td></tr><tr><td>2026–27</td><td>Stephen Curry</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>$62,587,158</td></tr><tr><td>2027–28</td><td>Nikola Jokić</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>$62,841,702</td></tr><tr><td>2028–29</td><td>Joel Embiid</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>$67,396,000</td></tr><tr><td>2029–30</td><td>Jayson Tatum</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>$71,446,914</td></tr><tr><td>2030–31</td><td>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder</td><td>$75,646,200</td></tr></tbody></table>

Highest career earners

List of highest-paid NBA players by season

Rank	Player	Start	End	Salary
1	LeBron James	2003–04	Present	$581,375,548
2	Kevin Durant	2007–08	Present	$501,135,653
3	Stephen Curry	2009−10	Present	$470,141,507
4	James Harden	2009–10	Present	$411,406,674
5	Paul George	2010–11	Present	$406,203,976
6	Chris Paul	2005–06	Present	$404,526,572
7	Kawhi Leonard	2011–12	Present	$375,772,011
8	Jimmy Butler	2011–12	Present	$366,174,318
9	Damian Lillard	2012–13	Present	$365,371,691
10	Anthony Davis	2012–13	Present	$364,454,284
Updated through the 2025–26 NBA season

Rank	Player	Start	End	Salary
1	Kevin Durant	2007–08	Present	$591,135,653
2	LeBron James	2003–04	Present	$581,375,548
3	Stephen Curry	2009–10	Present	$532,728,665
4	Devin Booker	2015–16	Present	$520,335,108
5	Paul George	2010–11	Present	$516,917,026
6	Joel Embiid	2014–15	Present	$509,313,851
7	Anthony Davis	2012–13	Present	$485,697,532
8	Damian Lillard	2012–13	Present	$482,940,103
9	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	2018–19	Present	$469,632,400
10	Jayson Tatum	2017–18	Present	$469,471,035
Updated through end of All Current Contracts, as of 2025−26

2020s

2025–2026

Stephen Curry has served as the highest-paid NBA player since the 2017–18 NBA season and became the first player to sign a contract with earnings of over $40 million and $50 million in a season.

Player	Salary	Team
Stephen Curry	$59,606,817	Golden State Warriors
Joel Embiid	$55,224,526	Philadelphia 76ers
Nikola Jokić	Denver Nuggets
Kevin Durant	$54,708,609	Houston Rockets
Giannis Antetokounmpo	$54,126,450	Milwaukee Bucks
Jimmy Butler	Golden State Warriors
Anthony Davis	Dallas Mavericks/Washington Wizards
Jayson Tatum	Boston Celtics
Devin Booker	$53,142,264	Phoenix Suns
Jaylen Brown	Boston Celtics
Karl-Anthony Towns	New York Knicks

2010s

2016–2017

LeBron James became the third player to sign a contract worth over $30 million in a season, after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Player	Salary	Team
LeBron James	$30,963,450	Cleveland Cavaliers
Al Horford	$26,540,100	Boston Celtics
DeMar DeRozan	$26,540,100	Toronto Raptors
James Harden	$26,540,100	Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant	$26,540,100	Golden State Warriors
Russell Westbrook	$26,540,100	Oklahoma City Thunder
Mike Conley Jr.	$26,540,100	Memphis Grizzlies
Dirk Nowitzki	$25,000,000	Dallas Mavericks
Carmelo Anthony	$24,559,380	New York Knicks
Damian Lillard	$24,328,425	Portland Trail Blazers

2015–2016

Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year career in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform, was the highest-paid player in the league from the 2009–10 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2015–16 season.

Player	Salary	Team
Kobe Bryant	$25,000,000	Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James	$22,970,500	Cleveland Cavaliers
Carmelo Anthony	$22,875,000	New York Knicks
Dwight Howard	$22,359,364	Houston Rockets
Chris Bosh	$22,192,730	Miami Heat
Chris Paul	$21,468,695	Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Durant	$20,158,622	Oklahoma City Thunder
Derrick Rose	$20,093,064	Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade	$20,000,000	Miami Heat
LaMarcus Aldridge	$19,689,000	San Antonio Spurs

2000s

2008–2009

Kevin Garnett was the highest-paid player during the 2008–09, 2007–08, and 2006–07 seasons; he relinquished that position to Shaquille O'Neal for two seasons, but was also the highest-paid player during the 2003–04, 2002–03, 2001–02, and 2000–01 seasons.

<table><thead><tr><th>Player</th><th>Salary</th><th>Team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Kevin Garnett</td><td>$24,751,934</td><td>Boston Celtics</td></tr><tr><td>Jason Kidd</td><td>$21,372,000</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td></tr><tr><td>Jermaine O'Neal</td><td>$21,372,000</td><td>Toronto Raptors</td></tr><tr><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>$21,262,500</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td></tr><tr><td>Shaquille O'Neal</td><td>$21,000,000</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td></tr><tr><td>Allen Iverson</td><td>$20,840,625</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td></tr><tr><td>Stephon Marbury</td><td>$20,840,625</td><td>Boston Celtics</td></tr><tr><td>Tim Duncan</td><td>$20,598,704</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td></tr><tr><td>Tracy McGrady</td><td>$20,370,437</td><td>Houston Rockets</td></tr><tr><td>Ray Allen</td><td>$18,388,430</td><td>Boston Celtics</td></tr></tbody></table>

2007–2008

<table><thead><tr><th>Player</th><th>Salary</th><th>Team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Kevin Garnett</td><td>$23,751,934</td><td>Boston Celtics</td></tr><tr><td>Shaquille O'Neal</td><td>$21,000,000</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td></tr><tr><td>Jason Kidd</td><td>$19,728,000</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td></tr><tr><td>Jermaine O'Neal</td><td>$19,728,000</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td></tr><tr><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>$19,490,625</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td></tr><tr><td>Tim Duncan</td><td>$19,014,188</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td></tr><tr><td>Allen Iverson</td><td>$19,012,500</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td></tr><tr><td>Stephon Marbury</td><td>$19,012,500</td><td>New York Knicks</td></tr><tr><td>Tracy McGrady</td><td>$18,257,750</td><td>Houston Rockets</td></tr><tr><td>Baron Davis</td><td>$16,440,000</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td></tr></tbody></table>