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Jayson Tatum’s average salary of $62.8 million makes him the highest-paid NBA player, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis tied for second.
With the NBA salary cap regularly increasing 10% after each season, there’s a lot of movement on the salary charts. Maximum contracts from a few years ago suddenly pale in comparison to the max contracts being signed today. And with a $77 billion, 11-year media rights deal kicking in at the start of 2025–26, expect contracts to keep increasing.
Despite that, for the second straight year, Boston forward Jayson Tatum takes the top spot as the highest-paid NBA player. Tatum’s deal, signed after he led the Celtics to an NBA title in 2024, 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 was second in 2024–25, earning $57 million in AAV, after signing a five-year extension worth $303.7 million.
But the 2024 NBA Finals MVP got bumped into fourth by two big men: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis, each of whom earns $58.46 million per year. In 2023, Antetokounmpo signed a three-year extension to stay in Milwaukee; that extension begins in 2025–26. Davis signed a nearly identical three-year extension with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 that kicked in this season…with Dallas, before he was ultimately traded to the Wizards.
Another big mover on the list is Jimmy Butler, whom Golden State will pay $55.5 million a year for two seasons to ply his trade alongside Stephen Curry (the highest-paid point guard on this list).
Sixth is 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 a year to tie for seventh. Booker signed his $220.44 million deal in 2022, a year after taking Phoenix to the franchise’s third NBA Finals. Towns signed a four-year deal to stay in Minnesota, but after being traded to New York, he’ll collect the remainder of his $220.44 million as a Knick.
Stephen Curry sits in ninth, earning $53.8 million annually. He signed a max contract extension in 2021 that will see him earn $215.35 million over four years.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley tie for 10th. Both players, who went #1 and #3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, were eligible for max designated rookie extensions after receiving All-NBA honors in 2025. They’ll earn over $53 million annually through the 2029–30 season.
Ranking The NBA’s Highest-Paid Players
- Updated: March 18th, 2026
| Rank | Player | Team | Average Annual Value | 2025–26 Cap Hit |
| 1 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | $62.8 million | $54.13 million |
| T-2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | $58.46 million | $54.13 million |
| T-2 | Anthony Davis | Washington Wizards | $58.46 million | $54.13 million |
| 4 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | $57.07 million | $53.14 million |
| 5 | Jimmy Butler | Golden State Warriors | $55.48 million | $54.13 million |
| 6 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | $55.22 million | $55.22 million |
| T-7 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | $55.11 million | $53.14 million |
| T-7 | Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks | $55.11 million | $53.14 million |
| 9 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $53.84 million | $59.61 million |
| T-10 | Cade Cunningham | Detroit Pistons | $53.82 million | $46.39 million |
| T-10 | Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers | $53.82 million | $46.39 million |
| 12 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $53.3 million | $55.22 million |
| 13 | Paul George | Philadelphia 76ers | $52.89 million | $51.67 million |
| 14 | Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | $51.96 million | $46.39 million |
| 15 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | $50.67 million | $52.63 million |
| 16 | Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | $50.1 million | $46.39 million |
| 17 | Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | $49.8 million | $50 million |
| 18 | Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz | $48.97 million | $46.39 million |
| T-19 | Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | $48.9 million | $45.55 million |
| T-19 | Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | $48.9 million | $45.55 million |
| 21 | Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | $48.55 million | $54.71 million |
| 22 | Pascal Siakam | Indiana Pacers | $47.24 million | $45.55 million |
| 23 | Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings | $46.5 million | $42.34 million |
| T-24 | Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors | $44.85 million | $38.66 million |
| T-24 | Franz Wagner | Orlando Magic | $44.85 million | $38.66 million |
Methodology
This list was compiled by Front Office Sports with data from Spotrac.
