Michael Jordan, who earned $33,140,000 in the 1997–98 NBA season, attempts a slam dunk at the Boston Garden. The highest-paid NBA players by season has recently eclipsed $40 million. Wilt Chamberlain has the most seasons leading the league with 8. Michael Jordan holds the largest 1-year contract in NBA history, LeBron James is the highest career earner and Stephen Curry is the highest season earner and is also the largest multi-year contract holder in NBA history.
During the 1946–47 season Joe Fulks was the highest paid player ($8,000) in the Basketball Association of America and Bob Davies was the highest paid player ($12,500) of the National Basketball League.
George Mikan became the first player to earn $15,000 per season in the 1948–49 season.
Wilt Chamberlain was the first player to receive $100,000 in the 1965–66 season. The next day, Bill Russell demanded that he receive $100,001 and it was granted that same season.
Moses Malone & Bill Walton were the first players to earn $1 Million in a season, they were paid exactly $1,000,000 in the 1979–80 season.
Larry Bird became the first player to earn $5 million or more with a salary of $7,070,000 in the 1991–92 season.
Magic Johnson became the first player to earn $10 million or more in the 94–95 season with a salary of $14,660,000.
Patrick Ewing became the first player to earn $15 million or more in the 95–96 season with a salary of $18,724,000.
Michael Jordan was the first NBA player to sign a contract worth over $20 million and in fact it exceeded $30 million as well in a season (1996–97) and (1997–98) where he earned $33,140,000, both are the largest 1 year contracts in NBA history; this was a record he had held for more than 30 years, until Stephen Curry broke his record with $34,682,550 in the 2017–18 season. Kobe Bryant became just the second player to reach $30 million when the 2013–14 season began.[1] LeBron James became the third in the 2016–17 season .
Stephen Curry became the first player to eclipse $40 million per year when he signed a record 5-year contract worth $201 million in 2017, starting with $34,682,550 in the 2017–18 season and ending with the largest earnings in the 2021–22 season with a record payout of $45,780,966, If his contract continues Curry is expected to be the first player to eclipse $50 million in the (2023–24) season.
Damian Lillard will reportedly be the first NBA player to eclipse $60 million in the 2026–27 season, he reportedly signed a contract worth $63,228,828.
Beginning in the 1984–85 NBA season , the NBA's first salary cap was introduced. The NBA salary cap is the maximum dollar amount each NBA team can spend on its players for the season. However, the NBA uses a "soft" salary cap, which means that significant "salary exceptions" allow NBA teams to exceed their allotted amount in order to sign players. The salary cap is determined during the offseason , but as stated earlier, it is liable to change.[2]
An exception is necessary to sign a player for a contract that would exceed the salary cap threshold of the "soft cap". The Larry Bird exception , more commonly known as Bird Rights, allows teams to re-sign a current player only if he has played for that particular team for a minimum of three years.[3] [4] [5]
According to 2010–11 NBA season game performance, the league's best players were not its highest-paid players. Each year there are ten players selected to one of the two All-NBA Teams . Out of those ten players chosen that year, Kobe Bryant was the only player that was also among the game's ten highest-paid during the 2010–11 NBA season.[6]
Highest-paid player by season Year Player Team Salary 1946–47 Joe Fulks Philadelphia Warriors $8,000 1947–48 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $12,500 1948–49 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $15,000 1949–50 $15,000 1950–51 George Mikan Harry Boykoff
Minneapolis Lakers Tri-Cities Blackhawks
$15,000 1951–52 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $15,000 1952–53 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $20,000 1953–54 $20,000 1955–56 Bob Cousy Boston Celtics $25,000 1956–57 $25,000 1957–58 $25,000 1958–59 $25,000 1959–60 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia 76ers $30,000 1960–61 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia 76ers $65,000 1961–62 $65,000 1962–63 $65,000 1963–64 $65,000 1964–65 $65,000 1965–66 * Bill Russell Boston Celtics $100,001 1966–67 $100,001 1967–68 Bill Bradley New York Knicks $125,000 1968–69 Wilt Chamberlain Los Angeles Lakers $250,000 1969–70 Wilt Chamberlain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Los Angeles Lakers Milwaukee Bucks
$250,000 1970–71 Pete Maravich Atlanta Hawks $380,000 1971–72 $380,000 1972–73 $380,000 1973–74 Ernie DiGregorio Buffalo Braves $500,000 1974–75 Ernie DiGregorio Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Buffalo Braves Milwaukee Bucks
$500,000 1975–76 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers $650,000 1976–77 $650,000 1977–78 $650,000 1978–79 David Thompson Denver Nuggets $800,000 1979–80 Moses Malone Bill Walton
Philadelphia 76ers San Diego Clippers
$1,000,000 1980–81 Julius Erving Moses Malone
Bill Walton
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers
San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
$1,000,000 1981–82 Otis Birdsong Julius Erving
Moses Malone
Bill Walton
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
New Jersey Nets Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
$1,000,000 1982–83 Moses Malone Philadelphia 76ers $2,200,000 1983–84 $2,200,000 1984–85 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers $2,500,000 1985–86 $2,500,000 1986–87 $2,500,000 1987–88 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks $2,750,000 1988–89 $3,250,000 1989–90 $3,750,000 1990–91 $4,250,000 1991–92 Larry Bird Boston Celtics $7,070,000 1992–93 David Robinson San Antonio Spurs $5,720,000 1993–94 $5,740,000 1994–95 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers $14,660,000 1995–96 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks $18,724,000 1996–97 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls $30,140,000 1997–98 $33,140,000 1998–99 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks $18,500,000 1999–00 Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers $17,142,000 2000–01 Kevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves $19,600,000 2001–02 $22,400,000 2002–03 $25,200,000 2003–04 $28,000,000 2004–05 Shaquille O'Neal Miami Heat $27,696,430 2005–06 $20,000,000 2006–07 Kevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves $21,000,000 2007–08 Boston Celtics $23,751,934 2008–09 $24,751,934 2009–10 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers $23,034,375 2010–11 $24,806,250 2011–12 $25,244,493 2012–13 $30,453,805 2013–14 $30,453,805 2014–15 $23,500,000 2015–16 $25,000,000 2016–17 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers $30,963,450 2017–18 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors $34,682,550 2018–19 $37,457,154 2019–20 $40,231,758 2020–21 $43,006,362 2021–22 $45,780,966 2022–23 $48,070,014 Upcoming Seasons (including Player Options) 2023–24 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors $51,915,615 2024–25 $55,761,216 2025–26 $59,606,817 2026–27 Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks $63,228,828 2027–28 Giannis Antetokounmpo Anthony Davis
Milwaukee Bucks Los Angeles Lakers
$63,417,200 2028–29 Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics $65,604,000
Highest career earners Rank Player Start End Salary 1 LeBron James 2003–04 Present $390,511,590 2 Chris Paul 2005–06 Present $362,107,923 3 Kevin Durant 2007–08 Present $351,505,713 4 Kevin Garnett 1995–96 2015–16 $334,304,240 5 Kobe Bryant 1996–97 2015–16 $323,312,307 6 Stephen Curry 2009-10 Present $305,929,066 7 James Harden 2009–10 Present $304,996,502 8 Russell Westbrook 2008–09 Present $291,976,692 9 Shaquille O'Neal 1992–93 2010–11 $286,344,668 10 Carmelo Anthony 2003–04 2021–22 $266,350,839 Updated through 2022–23 NBA season
Rank Player Start End Salary 1 LeBron James 2003–04 Present $429,519,302 2 Paul George 2010–11 Present $354,120,076 3 Kevin Durant 2007–08 Present $350,101,596 4 Chris Paul 2005–06 Present $344,120,565 5 Russell Westbrook 2008–09 Present $335,645,148 6 Giannis Antetokounmpo 2013–14 Present $335,200,796 7 Damian Lillard 2012–13 Present $328,136,432 8 James Harden 2009–10 Present $304,996,502 9 Anthony Davis 2012–13 Present $309,827,834 10 Rudy Gobert 2013–14 Present $307,690,342 Updated through end of All Current Contracts, as of 2021-22
2020s 2023–2024 Player[7] Salary Team Stephen Curry $51,915,615 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $47,607,350 Los Angeles Lakers Nikola Jokic $47,607,350 Denver Nuggets Joel Embiid $47,607,350 Philadelphia 76ers Bradley Beal $46,741,590 Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant $46,407,433 Phoenix Suns Paul George $45,640,084 Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard $45,640,084 Los Angeles Clippers Damian Lillard $45,640,084 Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo $45,640,084 Milwaukee Bucks
Stephen Curry is currently the highest-paid NBA player.
2022–2023 Player[8] Salary Team Stephen Curry $48,070,014 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $47,063,478 Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James $44,474,988 Los Angeles Lakers Bradley Beal $43,279,250 Washington Wizards Kevin Durant $42,969,845 Brooklyn Nets /Phoenix Suns Paul George $42,492,568 Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard $42,492,492 Los Angeles Clippers Damian Lillard $42,492,492 Portland Trail Blazers Giannis Antetokounmpo $42,492,492 Milwaukee Bucks Klay Thompson $40,600,080 Golden State Warriors
2021–2022 Player[9] Salary Team Stephen Curry $45,780,966 Golden State Warriors James Harden $44,310,840 Brooklyn Nets /Philadelphia 76ers John Wall $44,310,840 Houston Rockets Russell Westbrook $44,211,146 Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James $41,180,544 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Durant $40,918,900 Brooklyn Nets Paul George $39,344,900 Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard $39,344,900 Los Angeles Clippers Damian Lillard $39,344,900 Portland Trail Blazers Giannis Antetokounmpo $39,344,900 Milwaukee Bucks
2020–2021 Player[10] Salary Team Stephen Curry $43,006,362 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $41,358,814 Washington Wizards Chris Paul $41,358,814 Phoenix Suns James Harden $41,254,920 Houston Rockets /Brooklyn Nets John Wall $41,254,920 Houston Rockets LeBron James $39,219,566 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Durant $39,058,950 Brooklyn Nets Blake Griffin $36,595,996 Detroit Pistons Paul George $35,450,412 Los Angeles Clippers Klay Thompson $35,361,360 Golden State Warriors
2019–2020 Player[11] Salary Team Stephen Curry $40,231,758 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $38,506,482 Houston Rockets Chris Paul $38,506,482 Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant $38,199,000 Brooklyn Nets James Harden $38,199,000 Houston Rockets John Wall $38,199,000 Washington Wizards LeBron James $37,436,858 Los Angeles Lakers Kyle Lowry $34,996,296 Toronto Raptors Blake Griffin $34,449,964 Detroit Pistons Paul George $33,005,556 Los Angeles Clippers
2010s 2018–2019 Player[12] Salary Team Stephen Curry $37,457,154 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $35,665,000 Oklahoma City Thunder Chris Paul $35,654,150 Houston Rockets LeBron James $35,654,150 Los Angeles Lakers Kyle Lowry $32,700,000 Toronto Raptors Blake Griffin $31,873,932 Detroit Pistons Gordon Hayward $31,214,295 Boston Celtics James Harden $30,570,000 Houston Rockets Paul George $30,560,700 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley Jr. $30,521,115 Memphis Grizzlies
2017–2018 Player[13] Salary Team Stephen Curry $34,682,550 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $33,285,709 Cleveland Cavaliers Paul Millsap $30,769,231 Denver Nuggets Gordon Hayward $29,727,900 Boston Celtics Blake Griffin $29,512,900 Los Angeles Clippers /Detroit Pistons Kyle Lowry $28,903,704 Toronto Raptors Mike Conley Jr. $28,530,608 Memphis Grizzlies Russell Westbrook $28,299,399 Oklahoma City Thunder James Harden $28,299,399 Houston Rockets DeMar DeRozan $27,739,975 Toronto Raptors
2016–2017 LeBron James became the third player to sign a contract worth over thirty million dollars in a season, after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Player[14] Salary Team LeBron James $30,963,450 Cleveland Cavaliers Al Horford $26,540,100 Boston Celtics DeMar DeRozan $26,540,100 Toronto Raptors James Harden $26,540,100 Houston Rockets Kevin Durant $26,540,100 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $26,540,100 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley Jr. $26,540,100 Memphis Grizzlies Dirk Nowitzki $25,000,000 Dallas Mavericks Carmelo Anthony $24,559,380 New York Knicks Damian Lillard $24,328,425 Portland Trail Blazers
2015–2016 Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year career in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform, was the highest-paid player in the league from the 2009–10 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2015–16 season. Player[15] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $25,000,000 Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James $22,970,500 Cleveland Cavaliers Carmelo Anthony $22,875,000 New York Knicks Dwight Howard $22,359,364 Houston Rockets Chris Bosh $22,192,730 Miami Heat Chris Paul $21,468,695 Los Angeles Clippers Kevin Durant $20,158,622 Oklahoma City Thunder Derrick Rose $20,093,064 Chicago Bulls Dwyane Wade $20,000,000 Miami Heat LaMarcus Aldridge $19,689,000 San Antonio Spurs
2014–2015 Player[16] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $23,500,000 Los Angeles Lakers Amar'e Stoudemire $23,410,988 New York Knicks Joe Johnson $23,180,790 Brooklyn Nets Carmelo Anthony $22,458,401 New York Knicks Dwight Howard $21,436,271 Houston Rockets Chris Bosh $20,644,400 Miami Heat LeBron James $20,644,400 Cleveland Cavaliers Chris Paul $20,068,563 Los Angeles Clippers Deron Williams $19,754,465 Brooklyn Nets Rudy Gay $19,317,326 Sacramento Kings
2013–2014 Player[17] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $30,453,805 Los Angeles Lakers Dirk Nowitzki $22,721,381 Dallas Mavericks Amar'e Stoudemire $21,679,893 New York Knicks Joe Johnson $21,466,718 Brooklyn Nets Carmelo Anthony $21,388,953 New York Knicks Dwight Howard $20,513,178 Houston Rockets Pau Gasol $19,285,850 Los Angeles Lakers Chris Bosh $19,067,500 Miami Heat LeBron James $19,067,500 Miami Heat Dwyane Wade $18,673,000 Miami Heat
2012–2013 Player[18] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $30,453,805 Los Angeles Lakers Dirk Nowitzki $20,907,128 Dallas Mavericks Amar'e Stoudemire $19,948,799 New York Knicks Joe Johnson $19,752,645 Brooklyn Nets Carmelo Anthony $19,444,503 New York Knicks Pau Gasol $19,285,850 Los Angeles Lakers Chris Bosh $19,067,500 Miami Heat LeBron James $19,067,500 Miami Heat Dwyane Wade $18,673,000 Miami Heat Chris Paul $18,668,431 Los Angeles Clippers
2011–2012 Player[19] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $25,244,493 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Garnett $21,247,044 Boston Celtics Tim Duncan $21,164,619 San Antonio Spurs Rashard Lewis $21,136,631 Washington Wizards Dirk Nowitzki $19,092,873 Dallas Mavericks Pau Gasol $18,714,150 Los Angeles Lakers Carmelo Anthony $18,518,574 New York Knicks Amar'e Stoudemire $18,217,705 New York Knicks Elton Brand $18,160,355 Philadelphia 76ers Dwight Howard $18,091,770 Orlando Magic
2010–2011 Player[20] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $24,806,250 Los Angeles Lakers Rashard Lewis $19,573,711 Washington Wizards Tim Duncan $18,835,381 San Antonio Spurs Kevin Garnett $18,832,044 Boston Celtics Michael Redd $18,300,000 Milwaukee Bucks Andrei Kirilenko $17,823,000 Utah Jazz Pau Gasol $17,823,000 Los Angeles Lakers Gilbert Arenas $17,730,694 Washington Wizards Yao Ming $17,686,100 Houston Rockets Zach Randolph $17,666,666 Memphis Grizzlies
2009–2010 Player[21] Salary Team Kobe Bryant $23,034,375 Los Angeles Lakers Jermaine O'Neal $23,016,000 Miami Heat Tracy McGrady $22,843,124 New York Knicks Tim Duncan $22,183,220 San Antonio Spurs Shaquille O'Neal $21,000,000 Cleveland Cavaliers Dirk Nowitzki $19,795,714 Dallas Mavericks Paul Pierce $19,795,712 Boston Celtics Ray Allen $18,776,860 Boston Celtics Rashard Lewis $18,010,791 Orlando Magic Michael Redd $17,040,000 Milwaukee Bucks
2000s 2008–2009 Kevin Garnett was the highest-paid player during the 2008–09 , 2007–08 , and 2006–07 seasons; he relinquished that position to Shaquille O'Neal for two seasons, but was also the highest-paid player during the 2003–04 , 2002–03 , 2001–02 , and 2000–01 seasons. Player[22] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $24,751,934 Boston Celtics Jason Kidd $21,372,000 Dallas Mavericks Jermaine O'Neal $21,372,000 Toronto Raptors Kobe Bryant $21,262,500 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal $21,000,000 Phoenix Suns Allen Iverson $20,840,625 Detroit Pistons Stephon Marbury $20,840,625 Boston Celtics Tim Duncan $20,598,704 San Antonio Spurs Tracy McGrady $20,370,437 Houston Rockets Ray Allen $18,388,430 Boston Celtics
2007–2008 Player[24] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $23,751,934 Boston Celtics Shaquille O'Neal $21,000,000 Phoenix Suns Jason Kidd $19,728,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $19,728,000 Indiana Pacers Kobe Bryant $19,490,625 Los Angeles Lakers Tim Duncan $19,014,188 San Antonio Spurs Allen Iverson $19,012,500 Denver Nuggets Stephon Marbury $19,012,500 New York Knicks Tracy McGrady $18,257,750 Houston Rockets Baron Davis $16,440,000 Golden State Warriors
2006–2007 Player[25] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $21,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $20,000,000 Miami Heat Jason Kidd $18,084,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $18,084,000 Indiana Pacers Kobe Bryant $17,718,750 Los Angeles Lakers Tim Duncan $17,429,673 San Antonio Spurs Allen Iverson $17,184,375 Philadelphia 76ers Stephon Marbury $17,184,375 New York Knicks Tracy McGrady $16,901,500 Houston Rockets Grant Hill $16,901,500 Orlando Magic
2005–2006 Player[26] Salary Team Shaquille O'Neal $20,000,000 Miami Heat Allan Houston $19,125,000 New York Knicks Chris Webber $19,125,000 Philadelphia 76ers Kevin Garnett $18,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Allen Iverson $16,453,125 Philadelphia 76ers Stephon Marbury $16,453,125 New York Knicks Jason Kidd $16,440,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $16,440,000 Indiana Pacers Kobe Bryant $15,946,875 Los Angeles Lakers Michael Finley $15,937,500 Dallas Mavericks
2004–2005 Player[27] Salary Team Shaquille O'Neal $27,696,430 Miami Heat Dikembe Mutombo $19,485,719 New Jersey Nets /Houston Rockets Allan Houston $17,531,250 New York Knicks Chris Webber $17,531,250 Sacramento Kings Kevin Garnett $16,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Jason Kidd $14,796,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $14,796,000 Indiana Pacers Shareef Abdur-Rahim $14,625,000 Portland Trail Blazers Ray Allen $14,625,000 Seattle SuperSonics Penny Hardaway $14,625,000 New York Knicks Zydrunas Ilgauskas $14,625,000 Cleveland Cavaliers Allen Iverson $14,625,000 Philadelphia 76ers Stephon Marbury $14,625,000 New York Knicks Latrell Sprewell $14,625,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Antoine Walker $14,625,000 Atlanta Hawks
2003–2004 Player[28] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $28,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $26,571,000 Los Angeles Lakers Rasheed Wallace $18,000,000 Portland Trail Blazers Dikembe Mutombo $17,895,000 New York Knicks Allan Houston $15,937,000 New York Knicks Chris Webber $15,937,000 Sacramento Kings Damon Stoudamire $14,625,000 Portland Trail Blazers Penny Hardaway $13,500,000 Phoenix Suns Latrell Sprewell $13,500,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Antonio McDyess $13,500,000 Phoenix Suns
2002–2003 Player[29] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $25,200,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $23,571,000 Los Angeles Lakers Shawn Kemp $21,500,000 Orlando Magic Juwan Howard $20,625,000 Denver Nuggets Scottie Pippen $19,727,000 Portland Trail Blazers Karl Malone $19,250,000 Utah Jazz Rasheed Wallace $16,200,000 Portland Trail Blazers Dikembe Mutombo $16,105,000 New Jersey Nets Chris Webber $14,343,000 Sacramento Kings Damon Stoudamire $13,500,000 Portland Trail Blazers
2001–2002 Player[30] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $22,400,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $21,428,000 Los Angeles Lakers Alonzo Mourning $18,756,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $18,750,000 Denver Nuggets Scottie Pippen $18,083,000 Portland Trail Blazers Karl Malone $17,500,000 Utah Jazz Rasheed Wallace $14,400,000 Portland Trail Blazers Dikembe Mutombo $14,315,000 Philadelphia 76ers Gary Payton $12,926,000 Seattle SuperSonics Shawn Kemp $12,770,000 Portland Trail Blazers
2000–2001 Player[31] Salary Team Kevin Garnett $19,600,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $19,285,000 Los Angeles Lakers Alonzo Mourning $16,879,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $16,875,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $16,685,000 Houston Rockets Karl Malone $15,750,000 Utah Jazz Dikembe Mutombo $14,422,000 Philadelphia 76ers Patrick Ewing $14,000,000 Seattle SuperSonics David Robinson $13,196,000 San Antonio Spurs Scottie Pippen $13,151,000 Portland Trail Blazers
1999–2000 Player[32] Salary Team Shaquille O'Neal $17,142,000 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Garnett $16,806,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Alonzo Mourning $15,004,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $15,000,000 Washington Wizards Scottie Pippen $14,795,000 Portland Trail Blazers Karl Malone $14,000,000 Utah Jazz Larry Johnson $11,910,000 New York Knicks Gary Payton $11,020,000 Seattle SuperSonics Rasheed Wallace $10,800,000 Portland Trail Blazers Shawn Kemp $10,780,000 Cleveland Cavaliers
1990s 1998–1999 Player[33] Salary Team Patrick Ewing $18,500,000 New York Knicks Shaquille O'Neal $17,000,000 Los Angeles Lakers David Robinson $14,841,000 San Antonio Spurs Kevin Garnett $14,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Alonzo Mourning $13,130,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $13,125,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $12,943,000 Houston Rockets Dikembe Mutombo $11,218,000 Atlanta Hawks Jayson Williams $11,000,000 New Jersey Nets Scottie Pippen $11,000,000 Houston Rockets
1997-1998 Player[34] Salary Team Michael Jordan $33,140,000 Chicago Bulls Patrick Ewing $20,500,000 New York Knicks Horace Grant $14,285,714 Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal $12,857,143 Los Angeles Lakers David Robinson $12,397,440 San Antonio Spurs Alonzo Mourning $11,254,800 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $11,250,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $11,156,000 Houston Rockets Gary Payton $10,514,688 Seattle SuperSonics Dikembe Mutombo $9,615,187 Atlanta Hawks
1996-1997 Player[35] Salary Team Michael Jordan $30,140,000 Chicago Bulls Horace Grant $14,857,000 Orlando Magic Reggie Miller $11,250,000 Indiana Pacers Shaquille O'Neal $10,714,000 Los Angeles Lakers Gary Payton $10,212,000 Seattle SuperSonics David Robinson $9,952,000 San Antonio Spurs Juwan Howard $9,750,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $9,655,000 Houston Rockets Alonzo Mourning $9,380,000 Miami Heat Dennis Rodman $9,000,000 Chicago Bulls
1995-1996 Player[36] Salary Team Patrick Ewing $18,724,000 New York Knicks Clyde Drexler $9,810,000 Houston Rockets David Robinson $7,700,000 San Antonio Spurs Chris Webber $7,000,000 Washington Bullets Joe Dumars $6,881,000 Detroit Pistons Danny Manning $6,833,000 Phoenix Suns A.C. Green $6,473,000 Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal $5,700,000 Orlando Magic Derrick Coleman $5,476,000 Philadelphia 76ers Sean Elliott $5,333,000 San Antonio Spurs
See also Sports portal Business and economics portal References ^ "Kobe Bryant to Become NBA's Second Ever $30-Million Player". aolnews.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-19. ^ "NBA Salary Cap History". insidehoops.com. ^ "NBA Salary Cap Explained". about.com. ^ "Mid Level Exception". sportscity.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2011-11-09 . ^ "Bi-annual Exception". sportscity.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2011-11-09 . ^ Badenhausen, Kurt (2010-11-04). "The NBA's Highest-Paid Players". Forbes . ^ "2023/24 NBA Salary Rankings". Retrieved 2023-10-21 . ^ "2022/23 NBA Salary Rankings". Retrieved 2022-07-18 . ^ "2021/22 NBA Salary Rankings". Retrieved 2021-08-15 . ^ "2020/21 NBA Salary Rankings". Retrieved 2020-12-03 . ^ "2019/20 NBA Salary Rankings". Retrieved 2019-07-14 . ^ "2018/19 NBA Player Salaries". Retrieved 2018-09-09 . ^ "2017/18 NBA Player Salaries". Retrieved 2018-09-09 . ^ "The NBA's 25 highest-paid players for the 2016-17 season". Foxsports.com . Retrieved 2017-06-23 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2015-2016". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-10-30 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2014-2015". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-01-17 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2013-2014". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2012-2013". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-16 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2011-2012". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-16 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2010-2011". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2013-09-16 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2009-2010". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2013-09-16 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2008-2009". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ a b "NBA Salaries". Insidehoops.com. Retrieved 2011-11-30 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2007-2008". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2006-2007". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "2005-2006 salaries". eskimo.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018 . ^ "2004-2005 NBA salaries". eskimo.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2003-2004". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2002-2003". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2001-2002". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 2000-2001". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 1999-2000". ESPN (go.com). Retrieved 2014-02-01 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 1998-1999". Eskimo.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 1997-1998". Eskimo.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 1996-1997". Eskimo.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018 . ^ "NBA Player Salaries - 1995-1996". Eskimo.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018 .
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