2024 NBA Finals MVP of Celtics Jaylen Brown holds the title of the highest-paid NBA small forward. Brown earns an average of $57.07 million per year, having signed a five-year deal in 2023 to remain in Boston through the 2028-29 season.
Moving up a spot from last year’s rankings, to #2, is Warriors superstar Jimmy Butler. In 2021, Butler signed a three-year, $146.4 million contract extension with the Heat, allowing him to make more than $48.7 million annually. When he was traded to the Warriors during the 2024-25 season, he signed a two-year max extension that keeps him in the Bay Area through 2027 at a rate over $55 million annually.
Moving from second to third is Kawhi Leonard, who earns $49.83 million with the Clippers as part of a $149.65 million extension he signed with Los Angeles in 2024.
Following just behind Leonard is former MVP Kevin Durant at $48.55 million. Durant signed a four-year, $194.22 million deal with the Nets in 2022, was traded to the Suns in 2023, and will now see out the last year of his deal as a Houston Rocket after being traded in the offseason.
Finishing out the top five is Franz Wagner, who moves up from 36th on the list. Last offseason, the former 8th overall pick inked a five-year extension to stay in Orlando. It takes effect starting with the 2025-26 season.
The Highest-Paid Small Forwards
Here is the full list of the 25 highest-paid NBA small forwards by average salary. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: March 18th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Compensation |
| 1 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | $57.07 million |
| 2 | Jimmy Butler | Golden State Warriors | $55.48 million |
| 3 | Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | $49.83 million |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | $48.55 million |
| 5 | Franz Wagner | Orlando Magic | $44.85 million |
| 6 | OG Anunoby | New York Knicks | $42.5 million |
| 7 | Brandon Ingram | Toronto Raptors | $40 million |
| 8 | Michael Porter Jr. | Brooklyn Nets | $35.85 million |
| 9 | Khris Middleton | Washington Wizards | $31 million |
| 10 | Jalen Johnson | Atlanta Hawks | $30 million |
| 11 | Trey Murphy III | New Orleans Pelicans | $28 million |
| 12 | Andrew Wiggins | Miami Heat | $27.25 million |
| 13 | Miles Bridges | Charlotte Hornets | $25 million |
| 14 | DeMar DeRozan | Sacramento Kings | $24.63 million |
| 15 | Cameron Johnson | Denver Nuggets | $23.62 million |
| 16 | Mikal Bridges | New York Knicks | $22.73 million |
| 17 | De’Andre Hunter | Cleveland Cavaliers | $22.5 million |
| 18 | Dillon Brooks | Phoenix Suns | $21.5 million |
| 19 | Keldon Johnson | San Antonio Spurs | $18.5 million |
| 20 | Duncan Robinson | Detroit Pistons | $15.99 million |
| 21 | Cooper Flagg | Dallas Mavericks | $15.68 million |
| 22 | Zaccharie Risacher | Atlanta Hawks | $14.25 million |
| 23 | Deni Avdija | Portland Trail Blazers | $13.75 million |
| 24 | Corey Kispert | Washington Wizards | $13.5 million |
| 25 | Herb Jones | New Orleans Pelicans | $13.45 million |
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