NBA · 775 CAREERS
NBA career earnings
$44,222,973,980 of NBA contracts, 1998 to 2028, led by LeBron James on $530,882,395.
Every career the league has paid, ranked by what the contracts are worth. The figure is contract money and nothing else: basic salary, signing bonus, incentives and a trade bonus where a deal carried one. It is not a net worth and it does not include a single endorsement.
CONTRACT VALUE $44.22bn
PAID THROUGH 2026-27 $43.39bn
CAREERS 775
SEASONS 18
TOP TEN HOLD 10.0%
The fifteen richest basketball careers
Contract money earned, 1998 to 2028
Ten careers out of 775 hold 10.0% of the money. A league with a salary cap spreads the total more evenly than a prize-money sport does, and it still comes out this steep: the maximum contract is a ceiling on one man's season, not on how many of them he gets to sign.
The hundred richest NBA careers
Ranked by total contract money
| # | Player | Franchise | Position | Seasons | Span | Career earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | Power Forward | 22 | 2003 to 2024 | $530,882,395$530.9m |
| 02 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | Small Forward | 19 | 2007 to 2025 | $499,843,653$499.8m |
| 03 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | Point Guard | 17 | 2009 to 2025 | $470,090,010$470.1m |
| 04 | Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers | Point Guard | 15 | 2012 to 2026 | $449,910,157$449.9m |
| 05 | Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns | Shooting Guard | 15 | 2012 to 2026 | $428,874,362$428.9m |
| 06 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | Center | 13 | 2015 to 2027 | $426,640,075$426.6m |
| 07 | Chris Paul | Golden State Warriors | Point Guard | 20 | 2005 to 2024 | $419,909,419$419.9m |
| 08 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | Center | 13 | 2015 to 2027 | $416,840,523$416.8m |
| 09 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | Shooting Guard | 13 | 2015 to 2027 | $401,105,653$401.1m |
| 10 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | Center | 13 | 2014 to 2026 | $380,102,965$380.1m |
| 11 | Jimmy Butler | Miami Heat | Small Forward | 15 | 2011 to 2025 | $364,461,262$364.5m |
| 12 | Paul George | Los Angeles Clippers | Shooting Guard | 15 | 2010 to 2024 | $354,120,006$354.1m |
| 13 | Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks | Point Guard | 15 | 2011 to 2025 | $353,046,637$353.0m |
| 14 | Russell Westbrook | Los Angeles Clippers | Point Guard | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | $344,293,325$344.3m |
| 15 | James Harden | Philadelphia 76ers | Shooting Guard | 15 | 2009 to 2023 | $337,300,574$337.3m |
| 16 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | Power Forward | 13 | 2013 to 2025 | $335,200,390$335.2m |
| 17 | Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | Small Forward | 14 | 2011 to 2024 | $325,353,887$325.4m |
| 18 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | Center | 13 | 2012 to 2024 | $309,827,834$309.8m |
| 19 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | Center | 13 | 2013 to 2025 | $307,690,342$307.7m |
| 20 | Zach LaVine | Chicago Bulls | Shooting Guard | 13 | 2014 to 2026 | $301,588,248$301.6m |
| 21 | Jrue Holiday | Milwaukee Bucks | Point Guard | 16 | 2009 to 2024 | $291,448,885$291.4m |
| 22 | Khris Middleton | Milwaukee Bucks | Small Forward | 14 | 2012 to 2025 | $287,368,452$287.4m |
| 23 | Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings | Power Forward | 12 | 2016 to 2027 | $285,989,326$286.0m |
| 24 | Al Horford | Boston Celtics | Center | 18 | 2007 to 2024 | $285,136,768$285.1m |
| 25 | Andrew Wiggins | Golden State Warriors | Small Forward | 13 | 2014 to 2026 | $279,841,256$279.8m |
| 26 | C.J. McCollum | New Orleans Pelicans | Shooting Guard | 13 | 2013 to 2025 | $279,393,597$279.4m |
| 27 | John Wall | Houston Rockets | Point Guard | 13 | 2010 to 2022 | $276,504,708$276.5m |
| 28 | Kyle Lowry | Miami Heat | Point Guard | 18 | 2006 to 2023 | $275,048,700$275.0m |
| 29 | Mike Conley | Minnesota Timberwolves | Point Guard | 17 | 2007 to 2023 | $274,127,986$274.1m |
| 30 | Kevin Love | Miami Heat | Center | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | $273,681,665$273.7m |
| 31 | Gordon Hayward | Charlotte Hornets | Small Forward | 14 | 2010 to 2023 | $268,384,749$268.4m |
| 32 | Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors | Shooting Guard | 13 | 2011 to 2023 | $266,164,224$266.2m |
| 33 | Carmelo Anthony | Los Angeles Lakers | Power Forward | 19 | 2003 to 2021 | $262,523,093$262.5m |
| 34 | DeMar DeRozan | Chicago Bulls | Small Forward | 15 | 2009 to 2023 | $257,609,827$257.6m |
| 35 | Blake Griffin | Brooklyn Nets | Power Forward | 13 | 2009 to 2021 | $255,764,829$255.8m |
| 36 | Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | Power Forward | 15 | 2012 to 2026 | $255,562,184$255.6m |
| 37 | Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | Shooting Guard | 9 | 2020 to 2028 | $250,171,137$250.2m |
| 38 | Tobias Harris | Philadelphia 76ers | Power Forward | 13 | 2011 to 2023 | $248,503,505$248.5m |
| 39 | Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | Point Guard | 9 | 2018 to 2026 | $247,147,241$247.1m |
| 40 | Dwight Howard | Los Angeles Lakers | Center | 18 | 2004 to 2021 | $245,142,483$245.1m |
| 41 | Jerami Grant | Portland Trail Blazers | Power Forward | 14 | 2014 to 2027 | $241,698,410$241.7m |
| 42 | LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets | Point Guard | 9 | 2020 to 2028 | $241,496,275$241.5m |
| 43 | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | Point Guard | 9 | 2018 to 2026 | $241,295,349$241.3m |
| 44 | Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans | Power Forward | 9 | 2019 to 2027 | $240,891,747$240.9m |
| 45 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | Point Guard | 9 | 2019 to 2027 | $236,850,290$236.9m |
| 46 | Kristaps Porzingis | Boston Celtics | Power Forward | 11 | 2015 to 2025 | $235,197,782$235.2m |
| 47 | Darius Garland | Cleveland Cavaliers | Point Guard | 9 | 2019 to 2027 | $226,313,765$226.3m |
| 48 | Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | Point Guard | 9 | 2020 to 2028 | $223,778,995$223.8m |
| 49 | Harrison Barnes | Sacramento Kings | Power Forward | 14 | 2012 to 2025 | $220,158,501$220.2m |
| 50 | Brook Lopez | Milwaukee Bucks | Center | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | $220,049,673$220.0m |
| 51 | LaMarcus Aldridge | San Antonio Spurs | Power Forward | 15 | 2006 to 2020 | $218,740,888$218.7m |
| 52 | Nikola Vucevic | Chicago Bulls | Center | 15 | 2011 to 2025 | $214,338,639$214.3m |
| 53 | Fred VanVleet | Houston Rockets | Point Guard | 10 | 2016 to 2025 | $209,987,718$210.0m |
| 54 | Desmond Bane | Memphis Grizzlies | Shooting Guard | 9 | 2020 to 2028 | $207,175,373$207.2m |
| 55 | Ben Simmons | Brooklyn Nets | Point Guard | 9 | 2016 to 2024 | $203,356,689$203.4m |
| 56 | Danilo Gallinari | Washington Wizards | Power Forward | 16 | 2008 to 2023 | $201,736,696$201.7m |
| 57 | Nicolas Batum | Los Angeles Clippers | Small Forward | 16 | 2008 to 2023 | $199,123,175$199.1m |
| 58 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | Point Guard | 9 | 2018 to 2026 | $196,017,825$196.0m |
| 59 | Kemba Walker | New York Knicks | Point Guard | 12 | 2011 to 2022 | $194,838,117$194.8m |
| 60 | Michael Porter Jr. | Denver Nuggets | Small Forward | 9 | 2018 to 2026 | $194,181,008$194.2m |
| 61 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | Power Forward | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | $192,584,245$192.6m |
| 62 | Paul Millsap | Denver Nuggets | Power Forward | 15 | 2006 to 2020 | $189,898,867$189.9m |
| 63 | Julius Randle | New York Knicks | Power Forward | 12 | 2014 to 2025 | $188,472,762$188.5m |
| 64 | Tyson Chandler | Houston Rockets | Center | 19 | 2001 to 2019 | $187,736,398$187.7m |
| 65 | De'Aaron Fox | Sacramento Kings | Point Guard | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | $187,173,260$187.2m |
| 66 | Dejounte Murray | Atlanta Hawks | Point Guard | 12 | 2016 to 2027 | $184,584,477$184.6m |
| 67 | Eric Gordon | Phoenix Suns | Shooting Guard | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | $183,126,012$183.1m |
| 68 | Andre Iguodala | Golden State Warriors | Small Forward | 18 | 2004 to 2021 | $182,314,035$182.3m |
| 69 | Marc Gasol | Los Angeles Lakers | Center | 14 | 2008 to 2021 | $181,665,456$181.7m |
| 70 | Brandon Ingram | New Orleans Pelicans | Small Forward | 9 | 2016 to 2024 | $181,622,592$181.6m |
| 71 | Rudy Gay | Oklahoma City Thunder | Power Forward | 18 | 2006 to 2023 | $181,260,320$181.3m |
| 72 | Aaron Gordon | Denver Nuggets | Power Forward | 12 | 2014 to 2025 | $180,417,984$180.4m |
| 73 | Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | Shooting Guard | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | $179,022,996$179.0m |
| 74 | Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat | Center | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | $176,800,192$176.8m |
| 75 | Edrice Adebayo | Miami Heat | Power Forward | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | $176,800,192$176.8m |
| 76 | D'Angelo Russell | Los Angeles Lakers | Point Guard | 10 | 2015 to 2024 | $174,638,166$174.6m |
| 77 | DeAndre Jordan | Denver Nuggets | Center | 16 | 2008 to 2023 | $174,286,584$174.3m |
| 78 | Deandre Ayton | Phoenix Suns | Center | 8 | 2018 to 2025 | $172,710,676$172.7m |
| 79 | Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | Point Guard | 9 | 2016 to 2024 | $172,485,909$172.5m |
| 80 | Vince Carter | Atlanta Hawks | Shooting Guard | 22 | 1998 to 2019 | $172,046,271$172.0m |
| 81 | Steven Adams | Memphis Grizzlies | Center | 12 | 2013 to 2024 | $170,344,832$170.3m |
| 82 | Derrick Rose | Memphis Grizzlies | Point Guard | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | $169,477,118$169.5m |
| 83 | Evan Fournier | New York Knicks | Shooting Guard | 13 | 2012 to 2024 | $164,384,369$164.4m |
| 84 | Terry Rozier | Charlotte Hornets | Point Guard | 11 | 2015 to 2025 | $160,484,983$160.5m |
| 85 | Tim Hardaway Jr. | Dallas Mavericks | Shooting Guard | 12 | 2013 to 2024 | $154,599,404$154.6m |
| 86 | Reggie Jackson | Denver Nuggets | Point Guard | 14 | 2011 to 2024 | $154,525,194$154.5m |
| 87 | Thaddeus Young | Toronto Raptors | Power Forward | 17 | 2007 to 2023 | $151,403,318$151.4m |
| 88 | Goran Dragic | Miami Heat | Point Guard | 14 | 2008 to 2021 | $150,945,814$150.9m |
| 89 | Bogdan Bogdanovic | Atlanta Hawks | Shooting Guard | 10 | 2017 to 2026 | $148,466,913$148.5m |
| 90 | Eric Bledsoe | Los Angeles Clippers | Point Guard | 13 | 2010 to 2022 | $146,127,507$146.1m |
| 91 | Andre Drummond | Chicago Bulls | Center | 12 | 2012 to 2023 | $145,098,705$145.1m |
| 92 | Marcus Smart | Memphis Grizzlies | Point Guard | 12 | 2014 to 2025 | $143,634,564$143.6m |
| 93 | Pascal Siakam | Toronto Raptors | Power Forward | 8 | 2016 to 2023 | $143,163,667$143.2m |
| 94 | Joakim Noah | Los Angeles Clippers | Center | 15 | 2007 to 2021 | $142,929,510$142.9m |
| 95 | Bojan Bogdanovic | Detroit Pistons | Small Forward | 11 | 2014 to 2024 | $142,662,146$142.7m |
| 96 | R.J. Barrett | New York Knicks | Shooting Guard | 8 | 2019 to 2026 | $142,596,275$142.6m |
| 97 | Myles Turner | Indiana Pacers | Center | 10 | 2015 to 2024 | $140,149,804$140.1m |
| 98 | Otto Porter Jr. | Toronto Raptors | Small Forward | 11 | 2013 to 2023 | $138,816,877$138.8m |
| 99 | Jordan Clarkson | Utah Jazz | Shooting Guard | 12 | 2014 to 2025 | $138,798,627$138.8m |
| 100 | Ricky Rubio | Cleveland Cavaliers | Point Guard | 14 | 2011 to 2024 | $138,617,934$138.6m |
The hundred above are the top of a list 775 long. The full ranking carries every career we hold, down to the men who were paid for one season and never signed another.
What the NBA paid out each season
Every contract on this list, added up by year
$274m 09
$369m 10
$383m 11
$653m 12
$807m 13
$1.01bn 14
$1.43bn 15
$2.03bn 16
$2.62bn 17
$3.10bn 18
$3.50bn 19
$3.90bn 20
$4.25bn 21
$4.65bn 22
$4.83bn 23
$4.21bn 24
$3.10bn 25
$1.70bn 26
2023-24 is the biggest season on the chart at $4,830,595,059 across 461 men. Each column is a link to that season's payroll, ranked.
Career money by franchise
What the men on each roster have earned across their whole careers
This is career money carried by a current roster rather than a historical payroll: a man who earned nine figures elsewhere brings all of it with him when he signs. Every franchise has a page of its own.
Career money by position
What each job on the roster has been paid
| # | Position | Careers | Average career | Top earner | Total earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Point Guard | 150 | $69,135,930 | Stephen Curry | $10,370,389,556$10.37bn |
| 02 | Shooting Guard | 192 | $49,671,409 | Bradley Beal | $9,536,910,529$9.54bn |
| 03 | Power Forward | 140 | $63,553,768 | LeBron James | $8,897,527,571$8.90bn |
| 04 | Center | 123 | $69,030,106 | Nikola Jokic | $8,490,703,017$8.49bn |
| 05 | Small Forward | 153 | $44,973,377 | Kevin Durant | $6,880,926,756$6.88bn |
The average column is the total divided by the number of careers in it, so a position with a long tail of one-season men reads lower than the men at the top of it do.
How an NBA contract pays
The four things a deal is made of
- Basic salary 99.6%
- Signing bonus 0.1%
- Incentives 0.2%
- Trade bonus 0.1%
Basic salary is 99.6% of every dollar in the NBA file. The signing bonus is 0.1%, incentives 0.2% and a trade bonus 0.1%.
Frequently asked questions
Who has earned the most money in the NBA?
LeBron James, $530,882,395 across 22 seasons between 2003 and 2024. He is on the books at the Los Angeles Lakers.
How much have NBA contracts paid in total?
$44,222,973,980 across the 775 careers we hold, $43,393,819,923 of it paid through the 2026-27 season and $829,154,057 written into deals that run past it.
How concentrated is NBA money?
The ten richest careers hold 10.0% of everything on this list, out of 775 careers.
What counts as career earnings here?
Everything a contract pays: basic salary, signing bonus, incentives and a trade bonus where one was written in. Basic salary is 99.6% of the NBA total and the signing bonus 0.1%. Endorsements are not in it.
How many NBA players are still being paid?
88 of the 775 careers on this list have a figure against the 2026-27 season. 15 are owed money on a deal that runs past it.
Which franchise has paid out the most?
The Los Angeles Lakers, $2,572,097,026 across 29 careers. That is the money earned by men on its books now, not a historical payroll.
Where to next
The seasons, the franchises and the rest of the league
Every season
- 2009-10 NBA payrolls
- 2010-11 NBA payrolls
- 2011-12 NBA payrolls
- 2012-13 NBA payrolls
- 2013-14 NBA payrolls
- 2014-15 NBA payrolls
- 2015-16 NBA payrolls
- 2016-17 NBA payrolls
- 2017-18 NBA payrolls
- 2018-19 NBA payrolls
- 2019-20 NBA payrolls
- 2020-21 NBA payrolls
- 2021-22 NBA payrolls
- 2022-23 NBA payrolls
- 2023-24 NBA payrolls
- 2024-25 NBA payrolls
- 2025-26 NBA payrolls
- 2026-27 NBA payrolls
Every franchise
- Los Angeles Lakers career earnings
- Los Angeles Clippers career earnings
- Golden State Warriors career earnings
- Milwaukee Bucks career earnings
- Phoenix Suns career earnings
- Miami Heat career earnings
- Denver Nuggets career earnings
- Houston Rockets career earnings
- Atlanta Hawks career earnings
- Minnesota Timberwolves career earnings
- Philadelphia 76ers career earnings
- Dallas Mavericks career earnings
- Portland Trail Blazers career earnings
- Memphis Grizzlies career earnings
- New York Knicks career earnings
- Chicago Bulls career earnings
- Brooklyn Nets career earnings
- New Orleans Pelicans career earnings
- Sacramento Kings career earnings
- Boston Celtics career earnings
- Cleveland Cavaliers career earnings
- Utah Jazz career earnings
- Charlotte Hornets career earnings
- Oklahoma City Thunder career earnings
- Washington Wizards career earnings
- San Antonio Spurs career earnings
- Toronto Raptors career earnings
- Indiana Pacers career earnings
- Detroit Pistons career earnings
- Orlando Magic career earnings