NBA · PAID IN 2026-27
The richest active basketball players
$8,502,606,846 across 88 rows, led by Damian Lillard on $449,910,157.
Every man with a figure against the 2026-27 season, ranked by what his contracts are worth across his whole career.
PAID SO FAR $8.50bn
BIGGEST $449.9m
ROWS 88
AVERAGE $96.6m
TOP TEN HOLD 39.8%
The fifteen at the top
Paid so far, biggest first
The richest active basketball players
Ranked by paid so far
| # | Player | Franchise | First season | Career value | Paid so far |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers | Since 2012 | $449.9m | $449,910,157$449.9m |
| 02 | Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns | Since 2012 | $428.9m | $428,874,362$428.9m |
| 03 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | Since 2015 | $426.6m | $363,798,373$363.8m |
| 04 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | Since 2015 | $416.8m | $351,914,123$351.9m |
| 05 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | Since 2015 | $401.1m | $336,179,253$336.2m |
| 06 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | Since 2014 | $380.1m | $380,102,965$380.1m |
| 07 | Zach LaVine | Chicago Bulls | Since 2014 | $301.6m | $301,588,248$301.6m |
| 08 | Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings | Since 2016 | $286.0m | $237,381,326$237.4m |
| 09 | Andrew Wiggins | Golden State Warriors | Since 2014 | $279.8m | $279,841,256$279.8m |
| 10 | Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | Since 2012 | $255.6m | $255,562,184$255.6m |
| 11 | Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | Since 2020 | $250.2m | $159,291,137$159.3m |
| 12 | Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | Since 2018 | $247.1m | $247,147,241$247.1m |
| 13 | Jerami Grant | Portland Trail Blazers | Since 2014 | $241.7m | $205,284,620$205.3m |
| 14 | LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets | Since 2020 | $241.5m | $150,616,275$150.6m |
| 15 | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | Since 2018 | $241.3m | $241,295,349$241.3m |
| 16 | Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans | Since 2019 | $240.9m | $196,004,817$196.0m |
| 17 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | Since 2019 | $236.9m | $191,963,360$192.0m |
| 18 | Darius Garland | Cleveland Cavaliers | Since 2019 | $226.3m | $181,426,835$181.4m |
| 19 | Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | Since 2020 | $223.8m | $132,898,995$132.9m |
| 20 | Desmond Bane | Memphis Grizzlies | Since 2020 | $207.2m | $120,121,933$120.1m |
| 21 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | Since 2018 | $196.0m | $196,017,825$196.0m |
| 22 | Michael Porter Jr. | Denver Nuggets | Since 2018 | $194.2m | $194,181,008$194.2m |
| 23 | Dejounte Murray | Atlanta Hawks | Since 2016 | $184.6m | $153,076,973$153.1m |
| 24 | Bogdan Bogdanovic | Atlanta Hawks | Since 2017 | $148.5m | $148,466,913$148.5m |
| 25 | R.J. Barrett | New York Knicks | Since 2019 | $142.6m | $142,596,275$142.6m |
| 26 | Tyler Herro | Miami Heat | Since 2019 | $137.0m | $136,961,324$137.0m |
| 27 | Jordan Poole | Washington Wizards | Since 2019 | $133.1m | $133,090,879$133.1m |
| 28 | Dillon Brooks | Houston Rockets | Since 2017 | $124.7m | $124,711,221$124.7m |
| 29 | Kyle Kuzma | Washington Wizards | Since 2017 | $124.5m | $124,526,766$124.5m |
| 30 | De'Andre Hunter | Atlanta Hawks | Since 2019 | $121.7m | $121,659,869$121.7m |
| 31 | Jakob Poeltl | Toronto Raptors | Since 2016 | $116.2m | $116,247,126$116.2m |
| 32 | Cameron Johnson | Brooklyn Nets | Since 2019 | $109.5m | $109,466,410$109.5m |
| 33 | Luguentz Dort | Oklahoma City Thunder | Since 2019 | $86.0m | $85,956,249$86.0m |
| 34 | Keldon Johnson | San Antonio Spurs | Since 2019 | $83.9m | $83,895,473$83.9m |
| 35 | Isaiah Stewart | Detroit Pistons | Since 2020 | $75.1m | $60,098,193$60.1m |
| 36 | Kevin Porter Jr. | Houston Rockets | Since 2019 | $71.4m | $71,449,193$71.4m |
| 37 | Max Strus | Cleveland Cavaliers | Since 2019 | $66.2m | $66,197,309$66.2m |
| 38 | Grant Williams | Dallas Mavericks | Since 2019 | $65.1m | $65,144,181$65.1m |
| 39 | Donte DiVincenzo | New York Knicks | Since 2018 | $64.3m | $64,295,178$64.3m |
| 40 | Brandon Clarke | Memphis Grizzlies | Since 2019 | $62.2m | $62,152,560$62.2m |
| 41 | Herb Jones | New Orleans Pelicans | Since 2021 | $57.3m | $57,312,872$57.3m |
| 42 | Austin Reaves | Los Angeles Lakers | Since 2021 | $56.3m | $56,316,648$56.3m |
| 43 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | Since 2023 | $55.2m | $55,174,766$55.2m |
| 44 | Brandon Miller | Charlotte Hornets | Since 2023 | $49.4m | $49,378,426$49.4m |
| 45 | Scoot Henderson | Portland Trail Blazers | Since 2023 | $44.4m | $44,363,603$44.4m |
| 46 | Amen Thompson | Houston Rockets | Since 2023 | $40.0m | $40,008,489$40.0m |
| 47 | Nassir Little | Portland Trail Blazers | Since 2019 | $38.7m | $38,672,353$38.7m |
| 48 | Ausar Thompson | Detroit Pistons | Since 2023 | $36.2m | $36,246,405$36.2m |
| 49 | Kenrich Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder | Since 2018 | $35.3m | $35,336,763$35.3m |
| 50 | Jock Landale | Houston Rockets | Since 2021 | $34.5m | $34,488,776$34.5m |
| 51 | Anthony Black | Orlando Magic | Since 2023 | $32.9m | $32,929,836$32.9m |
| 52 | Gradey Dick | Toronto Raptors | Since 2023 | $32.0m | $21,422,551$21.4m |
| 53 | Bilal Coulibaly | Washington Wizards | Since 2023 | $30.1m | $30,075,132$30.1m |
| 54 | Jarace Walker | Indiana Pacers | Since 2023 | $27.6m | $27,566,102$27.6m |
| 55 | John Konchar | Memphis Grizzlies | Since 2020 | $27.5m | $27,495,000$27.5m |
| 56 | Taylor Hendricks | Utah Jazz | Since 2023 | $25.4m | $25,351,580$25.4m |
| 57 | Cason Wallace | Oklahoma City Thunder | Since 2023 | $24.1m | $24,088,326$24.1m |
| 58 | Jett Howard | Orlando Magic | Since 2023 | $23.2m | $23,172,779$23.2m |
| 59 | Dereck Lively II | Oklahoma City Thunder | Since 2023 | $22.3m | $22,282,691$22.3m |
| 60 | Jordan Hawkins | New Orleans Pelicans | Since 2023 | $20.6m | $20,599,055$20.6m |
| 61 | Kobe Bufkin | Atlanta Hawks | Since 2023 | $19.8m | $19,801,203$19.8m |
| 62 | Keyonte George | Utah Jazz | Since 2023 | $18.8m | $18,816,885$18.8m |
| 63 | Jalen Hood-Schifino | Los Angeles Lakers | Since 2023 | $17.9m | $17,882,808$17.9m |
| 64 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat | Since 2023 | $17.0m | $16,997,141$17.0m |
| 65 | Cam Whitmore | Houston Rockets | Since 2023 | $15.6m | $15,595,310$15.6m |
| 66 | Noah Clowney | Brooklyn Nets | Since 2023 | $15.1m | $15,146,274$15.1m |
| 67 | Dariq Whitehead | Brooklyn Nets | Since 2023 | $14.7m | $14,709,752$14.7m |
| 68 | Kris Murray | Portland Trail Blazers | Since 2023 | $14.3m | $14,284,524$14.3m |
| 69 | Marcus Sasser | Detroit Pistons | Since 2023 | $13.5m | $13,464,823$13.5m |
| 70 | Ben Sheppard | Indiana Pacers | Since 2023 | $13.0m | $13,023,429$13.0m |
| 71 | Nick Smith Jr. | Charlotte Hornets | Since 2023 | $12.7m | $12,651,907$12.7m |
| 72 | Brice Sensabaugh | Utah Jazz | Since 2023 | $12.6m | $12,576,077$12.6m |
| 73 | Brandin Podziemski | Golden State Warriors | Since 2023 | $12.6m | $12,551,859$12.6m |
| 74 | Julian Strawther | Denver Nuggets | Since 2023 | $12.5m | $12,484,731$12.5m |
| 75 | Kobe Brown | Los Angeles Clippers | Since 2023 | $12.4m | $12,394,179$12.4m |
| 76 | Julian Champagnie | San Antonio Spurs | Since 2023 | $12.0m | $12,000,000$12.0m |
| 77 | Colby Jones | Sacramento Kings | Since 2023 | $8.8m | $8,768,281$8.8m |
| 78 | Leonard Miller | Minnesota Timberwolves | Since 2023 | $8.3m | $8,319,739$8.3m |
| 79 | Jalen Pickett | Denver Nuggets | Since 2023 | $8.2m | $8,227,882$8.2m |
| 80 | Julian Phillips | Washington Wizards | Since 2023 | $8.1m | $8,119,739$8.1m |
| 81 | Andre Jackson Jr. | Milwaukee Bucks | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 82 | Chris Livingston | Milwaukee Bucks | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 83 | Hunter Tyson | Denver Nuggets | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 84 | Jordan Walsh | Boston Celtics | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 85 | Maxwell Lewis | Los Angeles Lakers | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 86 | Mouhamed Gueye | Atlanta Hawks | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 87 | Toumani Camara | Phoenix Suns | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
| 88 | Trayce Jackson-Davis | Golden State Warriors | Since 2023 | $7.6m | $7,639,302$7.6m |
The two money columns are different questions. Paid so far is money the seasons have actually delivered; career value is the whole of every contract, including the years that have not been played. A young man on a long deal sits high on the second and low on the first, which is the gap the NBA calls guaranteed money.
Frequently asked questions
Who tops the NBA first season list?
Damian Lillard, $449,910,157 (Since 2012), against a career total of $449,910,157.
What does the paid so far column add up to?
$8,502,606,846 across the 88 rows here, an average of $96,620,532 each. The ten at the top hold 39.8% of it.
How many clear $1 million?
88 of the 88 rows.
Where does this figure come from?
Contract money and nothing else: basic salary, signing bonus, incentives and a trade bonus where a deal carried one. No endorsement, no appearance fee, no business income.
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