The NBA continues to soar to new heights with a new $140 million salary cap and billion-dollar media rights deal looming.
Despite the disappointment in viewership from this year’s NBA Finals, the NBA is riding the momentum of soaring sports property values. Team values may hit new highs with the NBA champion Boston Celtics now for sale.
Jayson Tatum takes the top spot as the highest-paid NBA player, set to earn $62.8 million in AAV.
Tatum’s new deal is worth $314 million over five years. The contract includes performance incentives, such as being voted to the All-NBA team.
His Boston teammate Jaylen Brown is second, earning $57 million in AAV. Brown signed a five-year extension last summer worth $303.7 million. He’s helped reward the Celtics immediately by winning his first NBA title and earning NBA Finals MVP.
Third is the 2023 NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. He’s earning $55.2 million annually after signing a five-year deal in 2022. Jokic is set to earn $62.8 million in the last year of his contract in 2028 to total $276.1 million.
Devin Booker of the Suns and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks both earn $55.1 million in AAV to tie for fourth.
Booker signed his $220.44 million deal in 2022, a year after taking Phoenix to the franchise’s third NBA Finals. He’s earned $166.5 million over his nine-year career.
Towns became Minnesota’s most expensive player after signing a four-year deal that will net him a total of $220.44 million before being traded to New York. He’s set to earn over $20 million more each year than he did on his rookie extension.
Stephen Curry sits in fifth, earning $53.8 million annually. He signed a max contract extension in 2021 that will see him earn $215.35 million over four years.
The Celtics, Suns, and Sixers all feature two players among the top 10 highest-paid NBA players.
The Suns are the only team with three players among the highest-paid in the league. Collectively, their stars are set to earn $445.81 million this year.
Ranking The NBA’s Highest-Paid Players in 2024
Here is the entire list of the highest-paid NBA players. The list was compiled with data from Spotrac.
- Updated: March 18th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Average Annual Value | 2024-25 Cap Hit |
| 1 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | $62.8 million | $34.8 million |
| 2 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | $57.07 million | $49.2 million |
| 3 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | $55.2 million | $51.4 million |
| T-4 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | $55.1 million | $49.2 million |
| T-4 | Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks | $55.1 million | $49.2 million |
| 6 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $53.8 million | $55.76 million |
| 7 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $53.3 million | $51.4 million |
| 8 | Paul George | Philadelphia 76ers | $52.89 million | $49.2 million |
| 9 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | $50.67 million | $49.9 million |
| 10 | Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns | $50.2 million | $50.2 million |
| 11 | Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | $50.1 million | $35.4 million |
| 12 | Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | $49.8 million | $49.2 million |
| T-13 | Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | $48.9 million | $42.2 million |
| T-13 | Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | $48.9 million | $42.2 million |
| 15 | Jimmy Butler | Golden State Warriors | $48.79 million | $48.79 million |
| 16 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | $48.55 million | $51.2 million |
| 17 | Pascal Siakam | Indiana Pacers | $47.24 million | $42.3 million |
| 18 | Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings | $46.5 million | $40.5 million |
| 19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | $45.64 million | $48.79 million |
| 20 | Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | $44.06 million | $48.79 million |
| T-21 | Luka Doncic | Los Angeles Lakers | $43.03 million | $43 million |
| T-21 | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | $43.03 million | $43 million |
| T-21 | Zach LaVine | Sacramento Kings | $43.03 million | $43 million |
| 24 | Fred VanVleet | Houston Rockets | $42.8 million | $42.8 million |
| 25 | OG Anunoby | New York Knicks | $42.5 million | $36.6 million |
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