NBA · POSITION · 4 OF 5
Center career earnings
$8,490,703,017 across 123 careers, led by Nikola Jokic on $426,640,075.
Every NBA career filed at this position, ranked by total contract money. It comes to 19.2% of the money on record, at an average of $69,030,106 a career.
CAREER MONEY $8.49bn
PER CAREER $69.0m
CAREERS 123
SHARE OF LEAGUE 19.2%
RANK 4 of 5
Center at a glance
What the position has been paid
- Career money
- $8,490,703,017
- Careers
- 123
- Per career
- $69,030,106
- Paid through 2026-27
- $8,347,934,915
- Still to be paid
- $142,768,102
- Rank
- 4 of 5 positions
The fifteen richest Center careers
Total contract money, 2001 to 2027
Every Center career
Ranked by total contract money
| # | Player | Franchise | Seasons | Span | Still owed | Career earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Nikola Jokic Paid in 2026-27 | Denver Nuggets | 13 | 2015 to 2027 | $62.8m | $426,640,075$426.6m |
| 02 | Karl-Anthony Towns Paid in 2026-27 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 13 | 2015 to 2027 | $64.9m | $416,840,523$416.8m |
| 03 | Joel Embiid Paid in 2026-27 | Philadelphia 76ers | 13 | 2014 to 2026 | - | $380,102,965$380.1m |
| 04 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | 13 | 2012 to 2024 | - | $309,827,834$309.8m |
| 05 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | 13 | 2013 to 2025 | - | $307,690,342$307.7m |
| 06 | Al Horford | Boston Celtics | 18 | 2007 to 2024 | - | $285,136,768$285.1m |
| 07 | Kevin Love | Miami Heat | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | - | $273,681,665$273.7m |
| 08 | Dwight Howard | Los Angeles Lakers | 18 | 2004 to 2021 | - | $245,142,483$245.1m |
| 09 | Brook Lopez | Milwaukee Bucks | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | - | $220,049,673$220.0m |
| 10 | Nikola Vucevic | Chicago Bulls | 15 | 2011 to 2025 | - | $214,338,639$214.3m |
| 11 | Tyson Chandler | Houston Rockets | 19 | 2001 to 2019 | - | $187,736,398$187.7m |
| 12 | Marc Gasol | Los Angeles Lakers | 14 | 2008 to 2021 | - | $181,665,456$181.7m |
| 13 | Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | - | $176,800,192$176.8m |
| 14 | DeAndre Jordan | Denver Nuggets | 16 | 2008 to 2023 | - | $174,286,584$174.3m |
| 15 | Deandre Ayton | Phoenix Suns | 8 | 2018 to 2025 | - | $172,710,676$172.7m |
| 16 | Steven Adams | Memphis Grizzlies | 12 | 2013 to 2024 | - | $170,344,832$170.3m |
| 17 | Andre Drummond | Chicago Bulls | 12 | 2012 to 2023 | - | $145,098,705$145.1m |
| 18 | Joakim Noah | Los Angeles Clippers | 15 | 2007 to 2021 | - | $142,929,510$142.9m |
| 19 | Myles Turner | Indiana Pacers | 10 | 2015 to 2024 | - | $140,149,804$140.1m |
| 20 | Serge Ibaka | Los Angeles Clippers | 13 | 2009 to 2021 | - | $137,338,730$137.3m |
| 21 | Jonas Valanciunas | New Orleans Pelicans | 12 | 2012 to 2023 | - | $135,756,944$135.8m |
| 22 | Derrick Favors | Utah Jazz | 13 | 2010 to 2022 | - | $130,730,734$130.7m |
| 23 | Clint Capela | Atlanta Hawks | 11 | 2014 to 2024 | - | $130,443,968$130.4m |
| 24 | Jusuf Nurkic | Portland Trail Blazers | 12 | 2014 to 2025 | - | $129,395,180$129.4m |
| 25 | Jakob Poeltl Paid in 2026-27 | Toronto Raptors | 11 | 2016 to 2026 | - | $116,247,126$116.2m |
| 26 | Tristan Thompson | Atlanta Hawks | 11 | 2011 to 2021 | - | $115,914,333$115.9m |
| 27 | Jarrett Allen | Cleveland Cavaliers | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | - | $109,886,030$109.9m |
| 28 | Enes Kanter | Portland Trail Blazers | 11 | 2011 to 2021 | - | $106,290,535$106.3m |
| 29 | Hassan Whiteside | Utah Jazz | 10 | 2010 to 2021 | - | $104,713,201$104.7m |
| 30 | Robin Lopez | Milwaukee Bucks | 16 | 2008 to 2023 | - | $101,355,751$101.4m |
| 31 | DeMarcus Cousins | Los Angeles Clippers | 11 | 2010 to 2020 | - | $92,535,341$92.5m |
| 32 | JaVale McGee | Dallas Mavericks | 17 | 2008 to 2024 | - | $87,810,108$87.8m |
| 33 | Bismack Biyombo | Charlotte Hornets | 10 | 2011 to 2020 | - | $85,350,819$85.4m |
| 34 | Ian Mahinmi | Washington Wizards | 13 | 2007 to 2019 | - | $84,501,543$84.5m |
| 35 | Dwight Powell | Dallas Mavericks | 12 | 2014 to 2025 | - | $83,220,309$83.2m |
| 36 | Cody Zeller | New Orleans Pelicans | 11 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $78,835,630$78.8m |
| 37 | Mason Plumlee | Los Angeles Clippers | 11 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $77,850,952$77.9m |
| 38 | Isaiah Stewart Paid in 2026-27 | Detroit Pistons | 8 | 2020 to 2027 | $15.0m | $75,098,193$75.1m |
| 39 | Wendell Carter Jr. | Orlando Magic | 8 | 2018 to 2025 | - | $71,686,380$71.7m |
| 40 | Gorgui Dieng | Atlanta Hawks | 9 | 2013 to 2021 | - | $71,660,739$71.7m |
| 41 | Mitchell Robinson | New York Knicks | 8 | 2018 to 2025 | - | $66,413,588$66.4m |
| 42 | Richaun Holmes | Dallas Mavericks | 10 | 2015 to 2024 | - | $61,168,875$61.2m |
| 43 | Ivica Zubac | Los Angeles Clippers | 9 | 2016 to 2024 | - | $57,287,425$57.3m |
| 44 | Robert Williams III | Boston Celtics | 8 | 2018 to 2025 | - | $57,162,761$57.2m |
| 45 | Victor Wembanyama Paid in 2026-27 | San Antonio Spurs | 4 | 2023 to 2026 | - | $55,174,766$55.2m |
| 46 | Nerlens Noel | New York Knicks | 11 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $54,896,564$54.9m |
| 47 | Meyers Leonard | Portland Trail Blazers | 8 | 2012 to 2019 | - | $50,742,479$50.7m |
| 48 | Dewayne Dedmon | Miami Heat | 12 | 2013 to 2024 | - | $48,163,550$48.2m |
| 49 | Naz Reid | Minnesota Timberwolves | 7 | 2019 to 2025 | - | $48,032,745$48.0m |
| 50 | Daniel Theis | Indiana Pacers | 8 | 2017 to 2024 | - | $47,486,867$47.5m |
| 51 | Daniel Gafford | Washington Wizards | 7 | 2019 to 2025 | - | $46,255,929$46.3m |
| 52 | Aron Baynes | Toronto Raptors | 10 | 2012 to 2021 | - | $45,089,510$45.1m |
| 53 | Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4 | 2022 to 2025 | - | $44,889,248$44.9m |
| 54 | Ed Davis | Minnesota Timberwolves | 11 | 2010 to 2020 | - | $43,845,053$43.8m |
| 55 | Alex Len | Sacramento Kings | 11 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $43,013,782$43.0m |
| 56 | Kevon Looney | Golden State Warriors | 10 | 2015 to 2024 | - | $42,038,458$42.0m |
| 57 | James Wiseman | Detroit Pistons | 4 | 2020 to 2023 | - | $39,619,840$39.6m |
| 58 | Montrezl Harrell | Philadelphia 76ers | 9 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $39,475,239$39.5m |
| 59 | Zach Collins | San Antonio Spurs | 7 | 2017 to 2023 | - | $38,117,603$38.1m |
| 60 | Onyeka Okongwu | Atlanta Hawks | 5 | 2020 to 2024 | - | $37,239,633$37.2m |
| 61 | Mohamed Bamba | Philadelphia 76ers | 6 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $36,390,937$36.4m |
| 62 | Boban Marjanovic | Dallas Mavericks | 8 | 2015 to 2022 | - | $35,981,250$36.0m |
| 63 | Jock Landale Paid in 2026-27 | Houston Rockets | 6 | 2021 to 2026 | - | $34,488,776$34.5m |
| 64 | Thomas Bryant | Miami Heat | 8 | 2017 to 2024 | - | $34,200,710$34.2m |
| 65 | Khem Birch | San Antonio Spurs | 8 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $28,070,356$28.1m |
| 66 | Mike Muscala | Washington Wizards | 11 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $27,625,766$27.6m |
| 67 | Paul Reed | Philadelphia 76ers | 6 | 2020 to 2025 | - | $27,464,880$27.5m |
| 68 | Jaxson Hayes | Los Angeles Lakers | 6 | 2019 to 2024 | - | $26,747,438$26.7m |
| 69 | Moritz Wagner | Orlando Magic | 7 | 2018 to 2024 | - | $25,688,482$25.7m |
| 70 | Willie Cauley-Stein | Dallas Mavericks | 7 | 2015 to 2021 | - | $25,591,865$25.6m |
| 71 | Isaiah Hartenstein | New York Knicks | 6 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $22,655,097$22.7m |
| 72 | Dereck Lively II Paid in 2026-27 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4 | 2023 to 2026 | - | $22,282,691$22.3m |
| 73 | Nicolas Claxton | Brooklyn Nets | 5 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $22,242,768$22.2m |
| 74 | Jahlil Okafor | Detroit Pistons | 7 | 2015 to 2021 | - | $21,542,618$21.5m |
| 75 | Kyle O'Quinn | Philadelphia 76ers | 8 | 2012 to 2019 | - | $20,726,831$20.7m |
| 76 | Frank Kaminsky | Phoenix Suns | 7 | 2015 to 2021 | - | $20,259,340$20.3m |
| 77 | Jalen Duren | Detroit Pistons | 4 | 2022 to 2025 | - | $19,474,944$19.5m |
| 78 | Nick Richards | Charlotte Hornets | 6 | 2020 to 2025 | - | $19,300,602$19.3m |
| 79 | Mark Williams | Charlotte Hornets | 4 | 2022 to 2025 | - | $18,001,011$18.0m |
| 80 | Tyler Zeller | San Antonio Spurs | 8 | 2012 to 2019 | - | $17,643,678$17.6m |
| 81 | Thon Maker | Milwaukee Bucks | 5 | 2016 to 2020 | - | $16,483,977$16.5m |
| 82 | Goga Bitadze | Orlando Magic | 5 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $16,316,785$16.3m |
| 83 | Udoka Azubuike | Utah Jazz | 5 | 2020 to 2024 | - | $15,969,770$16.0m |
| 84 | Alperen Sengun | Houston Rockets | 4 | 2021 to 2024 | - | $15,550,974$15.6m |
| 85 | Bruno Fernando | Atlanta Hawks | 7 | 2019 to 2025 | - | $15,482,666$15.5m |
| 86 | Robert Williams | Boston Celtics | 5 | 2018 to 2022 | - | $14,593,471$14.6m |
| 87 | Damian Jones | Cleveland Cavaliers | 8 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $14,551,356$14.6m |
| 88 | Walker Kessler | Utah Jazz | 4 | 2022 to 2025 | - | $13,372,418$13.4m |
| 89 | Tony Bradley | Chicago Bulls | 6 | 2017 to 2022 | - | $12,301,787$12.3m |
| 90 | Luke Kornet | Boston Celtics | 6 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $11,337,581$11.3m |
| 91 | Charles Bassey | San Antonio Spurs | 5 | 2021 to 2025 | - | $11,200,000$11.2m |
| 92 | Drew Eubanks | Phoenix Suns | 5 | 2020 to 2024 | - | $10,829,817$10.8m |
| 93 | Day'Ron Sharpe | Brooklyn Nets | 4 | 2021 to 2024 | - | $10,317,802$10.3m |
| 94 | Santi Aldama | Memphis Grizzlies | 4 | 2021 to 2024 | - | $10,243,371$10.2m |
| 95 | Justin Patton | Detroit Pistons | 4 | 2017 to 2020 | - | $9,981,883$10.0m |
| 96 | Chimezie Metu | Phoenix Suns | 6 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $8,937,033$8.9m |
| 97 | Vincent Poirier | Boston Celtics | 3 | 2019 to 2021 | - | $8,399,009$8.4m |
| 98 | Jaylin Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4 | 2022 to 2025 | - | $8,207,398$8.2m |
| 99 | Harry Giles | Portland Trail Blazers | 4 | 2017 to 2020 | - | $8,162,919$8.2m |
| 100 | Willy Hernangomez | New Orleans Pelicans | 5 | 2016 to 2020 | - | $7,664,785$7.7m |
| 101 | Moses Brown | Dallas Mavericks | 4 | 2020 to 2023 | - | $6,796,049$6.8m |
| 102 | Vernon Carey Jr. | Utah Jazz | 4 | 2020 to 2023 | - | $6,747,840$6.7m |
| 103 | Xavier Tillman | Memphis Grizzlies | 4 | 2020 to 2023 | - | $6,531,283$6.5m |
| 104 | Dewan Hernandez | Toronto Raptors | 4 | 2019 to 2022 | - | $6,427,188$6.4m |
| 105 | Ante Zizic | Boston Celtics | 3 | 2017 to 2019 | - | $5,879,760$5.9m |
| 106 | Jericho Sims | New York Knicks | 3 | 2022 to 2024 | - | $5,658,206$5.7m |
| 107 | Anzejs Pasecniks | Washington Wizards | 3 | 2019 to 2021 | - | $5,332,558$5.3m |
| 108 | Christian Koloko | Toronto Raptors | 3 | 2022 to 2024 | - | $5,239,563$5.2m |
| 109 | Jordan Bell | Golden State Warriors | 4 | 2017 to 2020 | - | $4,874,463$4.9m |
| 110 | Daniel Oturu | Memphis Grizzlies | 3 | 2020 to 2022 | - | $4,335,547$4.3m |
| 111 | Marko Simonovic | Chicago Bulls | 3 | 2021 to 2023 | - | $4,324,872$4.3m |
| 112 | Orlando Robinson | Miami Heat | 2 | 2023 to 2024 | - | $3,922,462$3.9m |
| 113 | Omer Yurtseven | Miami Heat | 3 | 2020 to 2022 | - | $3,260,161$3.3m |
| 114 | Sandro Mamukelashvili | San Antonio Spurs | 2 | 2022 to 2023 | - | $2,377,423$2.4m |
| 115 | Devontae Cacok | Los Angeles Lakers | 2 | 2019 to 2021 | - | $1,499,215$1.5m |
| 116 | Amida Brimah | Indiana Pacers | 1 | 2021 | - | $1,489,068$1.5m |
| 117 | Reggie Perry | Brooklyn Nets | 1 | 2021 | - | $1,489,068$1.5m |
| 118 | Tacko Fall | Boston Celtics | 1 | 2021 | - | $1,489,065$1.5m |
| 119 | Jay Huff | Washington Wizards | 1 | 2021 | - | $925,258 |
| 120 | Johnny Hamilton | Atlanta Hawks | 1 | 2021 | - | $925,258 |
| 121 | Luka Garza | Minnesota Timberwolves | 1 | 2021 | - | $925,258 |
| 122 | Micah Potter | Utah Jazz | 1 | 2021 | - | $53,176 |
| 123 | Chance Comanche | Portland Trail Blazers | 1 | 2022 | - | $5,849 |
Center money by season
What these careers were paid, year by year
$49m 09
$64m 10
$95m 11
$169m 12
$207m 13
$246m 14
$346m 15
$496m 16
$623m 17
$715m 18
$726m 19
$697m 20
$717m 21
$777m 22
$794m 23
$737m 24
$531m 25
$245m 26
2023-24 is the biggest year on this chart at $793,524,107. The shape follows the careers filed at this position today rather than everybody who has ever played it.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the highest paid Center in the NBA?
Nikola Jokic. His contracts are worth $426,640,075 across 13 seasons from 2015 to 2027.
What have NBA centers earned?
$8,490,703,017 across 123 careers, an average of $69,030,106 each. That is 19.2% of every dollar in the NBA file.
How does that rank?
Center is 4 of 5 positions by total career money, behind Power Forward on $8,897,527,571 and ahead of Small Forward on $6,880,926,756.
How many are still being paid?
8 of the 123 have a figure against the 2026-27 season, and $142,768,102 is written into deals that run past it.
What counts towards a position total?
Every career filed at center now. A man counts once, at the position he is listed at today, so a career that moved between two jobs sits entirely under the second.
The positions either side
The same table, 4 other positions
Point Guard · Shooting Guard · Power Forward · Small Forward · All-time NBA earnings
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