Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic takes the crown as the highest-paid NBA center making over $55 million per year. In 2022, Jokic signed a five-year, $276.12 million contract extension to remain with the Nuggets.
Following just behind Jokic is 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who signed a four-year, $213.28 million contract extension with the 76ers in 2021 allowing him to make just over $53 million annually.
With a drop off of over $10 million, Rudy Gobert takes the third position making $41 million per year. Gobert signed a five-year, $205 million contract with the Jazz in 2020 before being traded to the Timberwolves in 2022.
Fourth on the list is the Lakers’ superstar Anthony Davis at $37.98 million and rounding out the top five is Deandre Ayton at $33.23 million. Ayton was involved in a blockbuster trade this past offseason sending him from the Suns to the Trail Blazers.
The Highest-Paid Centers
Here is the full list of the 25 highest-paid NBA centers by average salary. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: April 18, 2024
- Will be updated again: June 30, 2024
| Rank | Player | Team | Compensation |
| 1 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | $55.22 million |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $53.32 million |
| 3 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | $41 million |
| 4 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | $37.98 million |
| 5 | Deandre Ayton | Portland Trail Blazers | $33.23 million |
| 6 | Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat | $32.6 million |
| 7 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | $31.65 million |
| 8 | Brook Lopez | Milwaukee Bucks | $24 million |
| 9 | Clint Capela | Atlanta Hawks | $22.94 million |
| 10 | Myles Turner | Indiana Pacers | $20.45 million |
| 11 | Nikola Vucevic | Chicago Bulls | $20 million |
| 11 | Jarrett Allen | Cleveland Cavaliers | $20 million |
| 13 | Jakob Poeltl | Toronto Raptors | $19.5 million |
| 14 | Jusuf Nurkic | Phoenix Suns | $17.5 million |
| 15 | Jonas Valanciunas | New Orleans Pelicans | $15.06 million |
| 16 | Mitchell Robinson | New York Knicks | $15 million |
| 17 | Naz Reid | Minnesota Timberwolves | $13.98 million |
| 18 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | $13.79 million |
| 19 | Daniel Gafford | Dallas Mavericks | $13.39 million |
| 20 | Steven Adams | Houston Rockets | $12.6 million |
| 21 | Wendell Carter Jr. | Orlando Magic | $12.5 million |
| 22 | Robert Williams III | Portland Trail Blazers | $12 million |
| 23 | Richaun Holmes | Washington Wizards | $11.63 million |
| 24 | Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder | $11.22 million |
| 25 | Ivica Zubac | Los Angeles Clippers | $10.93 million |
