List of highest-paid NBA players by season

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 as well as the largest multi-year contract holder in NBA history.

Stephen Curry, the highest-paid player in the NBA, attempting a jump shot in the 2010–11 NBA season.

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. That same season, Bill Russell became just the second player to receive over $100,000.

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 became the first NBA player to sign a contract worth over $20 million and $30 million in a season (1996–97) and earned $33,140,000 in the 1997–98 season, setting the record for the largest 1-year contract in NBA history, and held the overall record for over 20 years. Kobe Bryant became just the second player to eclipse $30 million when the 2013–14 season began.^[1] LeBron James became the third in the 2016–17 season.

Stephen Curry signed a record 5-year contract worth $201 million in 2017 with a starting payout of $34,682,550 in the 2017–18 season, setting a new single-season record in earnings. He became the first player to eclipse $40 million in the 2019–20 season. After signing a 4-year contract extension worth $215 million in 2021, Curry went on to become the first player to eclipse $50 million in the 2023–24 season and is expected to be the first NBA player to eclipse $60 million in the 2026–27 season, having signed a contract worth $62,587,158.

Starting from 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 allow NBA teams to exceed their allotted amount in order to sign players through significant "salary exceptions". The salary cap is determined during the offseason, but 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] Another exception, known as the mid-level exception, allows for teams that are over the salary cap to sign one or more players as long as they do not exceed the total amount of the average NBA salary.^[4] Next, the bi-annual exception can be used by teams every other year to sign a free agent(s) for up to two years at an amount set by the NBA.^[5] Finally, the rookie player exception allows any NBA team to sign their first-round draft pick to a contract based upon a scale previously set forth by the NBA. Another option for teams would be to assign players to a league-assigned minimum salary contract for a maximum of two years.

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
2023–24			$51,915,615
2024–25			$55,761,216
Upcoming Seasons (including Player Options)
2025–26	Stephen Curry	Golden State Warriors	$59,606,817
2026–27			$62,587,158
2027–28	Joel Embiid	Philadelphia 76ers	$64,302,336
2028–29			$69,065,472
2029–30	Jayson Tatum	Boston Celtics	$71,446,914

Highest career earners

Rank	Player	Start	End	Salary
1	LeBron James	2003–04	Present	$528,695,302
2	Kevin Durant	2007–08	Present	$447,853,045
3	Stephen Curry	2009−10	Present	$410,534,690
4	Chris Paul	2005–06	Present	$400,369,419
5	James Harden	2009–10	Present	$372,223,981
6	Paul George	2010–11	Present	$354,537,886
7	Russell Westbrook	2008–09	Present	$345,897,096
8	Anthony Davis	2012–13	Present	$335,911,755
9	Kevin Garnett	1995–96	2015–16	$334,304,240
10	Damian Lillard	2012–13	Present	$328,751,088
Updated through 2024–25 NBA season

Rank	Player	Start	End	Salary
1	LeBron James	2003–04	Present	$581,322,455
2	Stephen Curry	2009–10	Present	$532,728,665
3	Paul George	2010–11	Present	$516,917,026
4	Joel Embiid	2014–15	Present	$513,976,859
5	Anthony Davis	2012–13	Present	$511,281,226
6	Kevin Durant	2007–08	Present	$501,135,653
7	Jayson Tatum	2017–18	Present	$469,471,035
8	Giannis Antetokounmpo	2013–14	Present	$459,249,563
9	Damian Lillard	2012–13	Present	$441,333,958
10	Bradley Beal	2012–13	Present	$428,924,362
Updated through end of All Current Contracts, as of 2024−25

2020s

2024–2025 Player[6] Salary Team Stephen Curry $55,761,216 Golden State Warriors Nikola Jokic $51,415,938 Denver Nuggets Joel Embiid $51,415,938 Philadelphia 76ers Bradley Beal $50,203,930 Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant $49,856,021 Phoenix Suns Devin Booker $49,205,800 Phoenix Suns Paul George $49,205,800 Philadelphia 76ers Kawhi Leonard $49,205,800 Los Angeles Clippers Jaylen Brown $49,205,800 Boston Celtics Karl-Anthony Towns $49,205,800 New York Knicks

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 has served as the highest-paid NBA player since the 2017–18 NBA season and became the first player to sign a contract with earnings of over $40 million and $50 million in a season.

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 $30 million 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

• List of highest paid Major League Baseball players
• List of player salaries in the NHL
• List of salaries
• NBA records