# List of highest-paid NBA players by 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

| Year | Player | Team | Salary |
| 1946–47 | Joe Fulks | Philadelphia Warriors | $8,000 |
| 1947–48 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $12,500 |
| 1948–49 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $15,000 |
| 1949–50 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $15,000 |
| 1950–51 | George Mikan Harry Boykoff | Minneapolis Lakers Tri-Cities Blackhawks | $15,000 |
| 1951–52 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $15,000 |
| 1952–53 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $20,000 |
| 1953–54 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $20,000 |
| 1955–56 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1956–57 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1957–58 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1958–59 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $30,000 |
| 1960–61 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1961–62 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1962–63 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1963–64 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1964–65 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1965–66* | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | $100,001 |
| 1966–67 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | $100,001 |
| 1967–68 | Bill Bradley | New York Knicks | $125,000 |
| 1968–69 | Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers | $250,000 |
| 1969–70 | Wilt Chamberlain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers Milwaukee Bucks | $250,000 |
| 1970–71 | Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks | $380,000 |
| 1971–72 | Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks | $380,000 |
| 1972–73 | Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks | $380,000 |
| 1973–74 | Ernie DiGregorio | Buffalo Braves | $500,000 |
| 1974–75 | Ernie DiGregorio Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Buffalo Braves Milwaukee Bucks | $500,000 |
| 1975–76 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers | $650,000 |
| 1976–77 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers | $650,000 |
| 1977–78 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers | $650,000 |
| 1978–79 | David Thompson | Denver Nuggets | $800,000 |
| 1979–80 | Moses Malone Bill Walton | Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers | $1,000,000 |
| 1980–81 | Julius Erving Moses Malone Bill Walton Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers Los Angeles Lakers | $1,000,000 |
| 1981–82 | Otis Birdsong Julius Erving Moses Malone Bill Walton Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | New Jersey Nets Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers Los Angeles Lakers | $1,000,000 |
| 1982–83 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers | $2,200,000 |
| 1983–84 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers | $2,200,000 |
| 1984–85 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $2,500,000 |
| 1985–86 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $2,500,000 |
| 1986–87 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $2,500,000 |
| 1987–88 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $2,750,000 |
| 1988–89 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $3,250,000 |
| 1989–90 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $3,750,000 |
| 1990–91 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $4,250,000 |
| 1991–92 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | $7,070,000 |
| 1992–93 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs | $5,720,000 |
| 1993–94 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs | $5,740,000 |
| 1994–95 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $14,660,000 |
| 1995–96 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $18,724,000 |
| 1996–97 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | $30,140,000 |
| 1997–98 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | $33,140,000 |
| 1998–99 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $18,500,000 |
| 1999–00 | Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers | $17,142,000 |
| 2000–01 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $19,600,000 |
| 2001–02 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $22,400,000 |
| 2002–03 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $25,200,000 |
| 2003–04 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $28,000,000 |
| 2004–05 | Shaquille O'Neal | Miami Heat | $27,696,430 |
| 2005–06 | Shaquille O'Neal | Miami Heat | $20,000,000 |
| 2006–07 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $21,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | Kevin Garnett | Boston Celtics | $23,751,934 |
| 2008–09 | Kevin Garnett | Boston Celtics | $24,751,934 |
| 2009–10 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $23,034,375 |
| 2010–11 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $24,806,250 |
| 2011–12 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $25,244,493 |
| 2012–13 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $30,453,805 |
| 2013–14 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $30,453,805 |
| 2014–15 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $23,500,000 |
| 2015–16 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $25,000,000 |
| 2016–17 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers | $30,963,450 |
| 2017–18 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $34,682,550 |
| 2018–19 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $37,457,154 |
| 2019–20 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $40,231,758 |
| 2020–21 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $43,006,362 |
| 2021–22 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $45,780,966 |
| 2022–23 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $48,070,014 |
| 2023–24 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $51,915,615 |
| 2024–25 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $55,761,216 |
| Upcoming Seasons (including Player Options) ||||
| 2025–26 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $59,606,817 |
| 2026–27 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $62,587,158 |
| 2027–28 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $64,302,336 |
| 2028–29 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $69,065,472 |
| 2029–30 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | $71,446,914 |

## Highest career earners

| Rank | Player | Start | End | Salary |
| 1 | LeBron James | 2003–04 | Present | $528,695,302 |
| 2 | Kevin Durant | 2007–08 | Present | $447,853,045 |
| 3 | Stephen Curry | 2009−10 | Present | $410,534,690 |
| 4 | Chris Paul | 2005–06 | Present | $400,369,419 |
| 5 | James Harden | 2009–10 | Present | $372,223,981 |
| 6 | Paul George | 2010–11 | Present | $354,537,886 |
| 7 | Russell Westbrook | 2008–09 | Present | $345,897,096 |
| 8 | Anthony Davis | 2012–13 | Present | $335,911,755 |
| 9 | Kevin Garnett | 1995–96 | 2015–16 | $334,304,240 |
| 10 | Damian Lillard | 2012–13 | Present | $328,751,088 |
| Updated through 2024–25 NBA season |||||
| Rank | Player | Start | End | Salary |
| 1 | LeBron James | 2003–04 | Present | $581,322,455 |
| 2 | Stephen Curry | 2009–10 | Present | $532,728,665 |
| 3 | Paul George | 2010–11 | Present | $516,917,026 |
| 4 | Joel Embiid | 2014–15 | Present | $513,976,859 |
| 5 | Anthony Davis | 2012–13 | Present | $511,281,226 |
| 6 | Kevin Durant | 2007–08 | Present | $501,135,653 |
| 7 | Jayson Tatum | 2017–18 | Present | $469,471,035 |
| 8 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 2013–14 | Present | $459,249,563 |
| 9 | Damian Lillard | 2012–13 | Present | $441,333,958 |
| 10 | Bradley Beal | 2012–13 | Present | $428,924,362 |
| Updated through end of All Current Contracts, as of 2024−25 |||||

## 2010s
### 2016–2017

| 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

| 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

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

### 2007–2008

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

## 1990s
### 1998–1999

| Player | Salary | Team |
| Patrick Ewing | $18,500,000 | New York Knicks |
| Shaquille O'Neal | $17,000,000 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| David Robinson | $14,841,000 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Kevin Garnett | $14,000,000 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Alonzo Mourning | $13,130,000 | Miami Heat |
| Juwan Howard | $13,125,000 | Washington Wizards |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | $12,943,000 | Houston Rockets |
| Dikembe Mutombo | $11,218,000 | Atlanta Hawks |
| Jayson Williams | $11,000,000 | New Jersey Nets |
| Scottie Pippen | $11,000,000 | Houston Rockets |
1997-1998
PlayerSalaryTeam
Michael Jordan$33,140,000Chicago Bulls
Patrick Ewing$20,500,000New York Knicks
Horace Grant$14,285,714Orlando Magic
Shaquille O'Neal$12,857,143Los Angeles Lakers
David Robinson$12,397,440San Antonio Spurs
Alonzo Mourning$11,254,800Miami Heat
Juwan Howard$11,250,000Washington Wizards
Hakeem Olajuwon$11,156,000Houston Rockets
Gary Payton$10,514,688Seattle SuperSonics
Dikembe Mutombo$9,615,187Atlanta Hawks :
1996-1997
PlayerSalaryTeam
Michael Jordan$30,140,000Chicago Bulls
Horace Grant$14,857,000Orlando Magic
Reggie Miller$11,250,000Indiana Pacers
Shaquille O'Neal$10,714,000Los Angeles Lakers
Gary Payton$10,212,000Seattle SuperSonics
David Robinson$9,952,000San Antonio Spurs
Juwan Howard$9,750,000Washington Wizards
Hakeem Olajuwon$9,655,000Houston Rockets
Alonzo Mourning$9,380,000Miami Heat
Dennis Rodman$9,000,000Chicago Bulls :
1995-1996
PlayerSalaryTeam
Patrick Ewing$18,724,000New York Knicks
Clyde Drexler$9,810,000Houston Rockets
David Robinson$7,700,000San Antonio Spurs
Chris Webber$7,000,000Washington Bullets
Joe Dumars$6,881,000Detroit Pistons
Danny Manning$6,833,000Phoenix Suns
A.C. Green$6,473,000Phoenix Suns
Shaquille O'Neal$5,700,000Orlando Magic
Derrick Coleman$5,476,000Philadelphia 76ers
Sean Elliott$5,333,000San Antonio Spurs :