Highest-Paid NBA Players of All Time

The new NBA season is underway, and the salary figures are staggering. Modern media deals and expanding salary caps have transformed the league’s pay scale in ways that make even legendary earnings look modest by comparison. NBA highest paid players today are pulling in numbers that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. Case in point: Michael Jordan’s career salary, despite his GOAT status, doesn’t rank him among the league’s top earners. Here’s a closer look at who’s actually making the most money in NBA history.

Stephen Curry, $652 million

Curry sits atop the all-time earnings list after signing multiple record-breaking deals with the Warriors. In 2017, he inked the NBA’s first-ever $201 million supermax contract extension over five years. Four years later, he followed that with a four-year, $215 million extension, becoming the first player to sign two separate deals valued above $200 million. This past September, Curry added a two-year, $116 million extension to his portfolio, pushing him over the $600 million career threshold.

Kevin Durant, $601 million

Durant’s combination of elite scoring prowess and long-term max contracts across multiple franchises—Oklahoma City, Golden State, Brooklyn, and Phoenix—has made him one of the league’s most consistently compensated superstars. He holds the distinction of being the first NBA player to crack the $600 million career earnings mark, a barrier that NBA highest paid players are now regularly surpassing.

LeBron James, $581 million

LeBron was the first player in NBA history to surpass $500 million in career salary alone, a milestone he reached while still active. Over 20-plus seasons with Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles, he maintained max-level compensation year after year. His move to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason came on a two-year, $7.95 million veteran minimum deal, but his career total remains astronomical.

Kawhi Leonard, $543.8 million

Leonard’s path to the top earnings list is remarkable given the load management and injury-related absences that have punctuated his career. Despite time on the sidelines and controversy over salary cap matters, he’s consistently landed max extensions with the Spurs, Raptors, and Clippers. In September, he signed a two-year, $115 million extension with Toronto for a second stint with the franchise.

Paul George, $518 million

George’s smooth all-around game earned him max deals across multiple stops: Indiana, OKC, and the Clippers. His move to the 76ers in 2024 on a four-year, $212 million contract added significantly to his bottom line. By the end of his current Philadelphia deal, George’s career NBA salary will top $518 million.

Joel Embiid, $514.8 million

Embiid’s entire financial story centers on the Philadelphia 76ers, where he’s built his brand alongside the franchise. A series of mega-extensions have anchored his earning potential, with his current deal structure running through the 2028-29 season. By the end of his active contracts, his total career earnings are projected to surpass $514.8 million.

James Harden, $511 million

Harden’s MVP-caliber seasons in Houston, combined with lucrative contracts across Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and the Clippers, created one of the most profitable guard careers in league history. The Beard is set to make $511 million by the end of his current deal.

Anthony Davis, $486 million

Davis ranks among the highest-earning frontcourt players, having secured over $486 million in career NBA salary. With a player option after the 2026-27 season, he’s poised to cross the half-billion-dollar threshold.

Damian Lillard, $484 million

Lillard’s nickname, “Dame Dollar,” fits his earning power perfectly. Over 13 seasons, he’s accumulated $484 million in career earnings. A two-year extension he signed in July 2022 pushed his total contract value past that mark.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, $459 million

The Greek Freak’s climb from 15th overall pick in 2013 to one of the league’s highest-paid players ranks among the most impressive financial ascents in modern NBA history. By the end of his current contract with the Miami Heat, Giannis will have made approximately $459 million.

Devin Booker, $450 million

Booker’s entire career has been built with the Phoenix Suns, and that loyalty has been rewarded handsomely. A sequence of max extensions signed entirely with the franchise has built his $450 million career total. At 29 years old, he’s positioned to climb higher on this list.

Kyrie Irving, $429 million

Irving’s career has taken him to five different organizations, and each one has paid supermax money for his services. From the Cavaliers through Boston, Brooklyn, Dallas, and beyond, his $429 million total reflects years of max-level compensation and the premium placed on elite point guard play.

Chris Paul, $400 million

Paul recently retired after 21 seasons, leaving behind a $400 million career total and a legacy as the guard who helped define the modern supermax era. As longtime president of the NBA Players Association, he played a central role in shaping the very rules that made these massive contracts possible. His moves to the Clippers, Rockets, and Suns all came with premium compensation.

Russell Westbrook, $350 million

Westbrook’s 18-year career netted him approximately $350 million. In his later seasons, he took more team-friendly deals with the Clippers, Nuggets, and Kings, prioritizing his chance to compete for a title over pure earning potential.