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Wednesday, October 22, 2025

The Highest-Paid NBA Players in 2025-26

  • Boston’s duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown take two of the top five spots.
  • Golden State teammates Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry also land in the top 10.
Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

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; he’s set to earn an average of $62.8 million per year. 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: Milwaukee’s 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 also kicks in this season…with Dallas, which traded away Luka Doncic to get him.

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 in 2025

Here is a list of the highest-paid NBA players compiled with data from Spotrac.

  • Updated: July 24th, 2025
RankPlayerTeamAverage Annual Value2025–26 Cap Hit
1Jayson TatumBoston Celtics$62.8 million$54.13 million
T-2Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks$58.46 million$54.13 million
T-2Anthony DavisDallas Mavericks$58.46 million$54.13 million
4Jaylen BrownBoston Celtics$57.07 million$53.14 million
5Jimmy ButlerGolden State Warriors$55.48 million$54.13 million
6Nikola JokicDenver Nuggets$55.22 million$55.22 million
T-7Devin BookerPhoenix Suns$55.11 million$53.14 million
T-7Karl-Anthony TownsNew York Knicks$55.11 million$53.14 million
9Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors$53.84 million$59.61 million
T-10Cade CunninghamDetroit Pistons$53.82 million$46.39 million
T-10Evan MobleyCleveland Cavaliers$53.82 million$46.39 million
12Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers$53.3 million$55.22 million
13Paul GeorgePhiladelphia 76ers$52.89 million$51.67 million
14Jamal MurrayDenver Nuggets$51.96 million$46.39 million
15LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers$50.67 million$52.63 million
16Donovan MitchellCleveland Cavaliers$50.1 million$46.39 million
17Kawhi LeonardLos Angeles Clippers$49.8 million$50 million
18Lauri MarkkanenUtah Jazz$48.97 million$46.39 million
T-19Anthony EdwardsMinnesota Timberwolves$48.9 million$45.55 million
T-19Tyrese HaliburtonIndiana Pacers$48.9 million$45.55 million
21Kevin DurantHouston Rockets$48.55 million$54.71 million
22Pascal SiakamIndiana Pacers$47.24 million$45.55 million
23Domantas SabonisSacramento Kings$46.5 million$42.34 million
T-24Scottie BarnesToronto Raptors$44.85 million$38.66 million
T-24Franz WagnerOrlando Magic$44.85 million$38.66 million

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