As the biggest basketball league in the world, the NBA is a financial juggernaut. The league generates revenues from various sources that surpass any other basketball league on the planet. This economic prosperity directly impacts the earning potential of NBA players. Due to the NBA's financial prowess, teams can offer players some of the most lucrative contracts across all sports.
Over the years, a select few legendary superstars in the NBA have consistently been the highest-paid players. Teams have been offering unparalleled compensation to these superstars, reflecting the financial success of the sport.
Also Read: List of NBA Teams with the Most NBA Championships
List of Highest-paid NBA players by season
| NBA Season | Highest Paid 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 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $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 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | $20,000 |
| 1955–56 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1956–57 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1957–58 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1958–59 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | $25,000 |
| 1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $30,000 |
| 1960–61 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1961–62 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1962–63 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1963–64 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1964–65 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | $65,000 |
| 1965–66* | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | $100,001 |
| 1966–67 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | $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 | Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks | $380,000 |
| 1972–73 | Pete Maravich | Atlanta Hawks | $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 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers | $650,000 |
| 1977–78 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Los Angeles Lakers | $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 | Moses Malone | Philadelphia 76ers | $2,200,000 |
| 1984–85 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $2,500,000 |
| 1985–86 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $2,500,000 |
| 1986–87 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | $2,500,000 |
| 1987–88 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $2,750,000 |
| 1988–89 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $3,250,000 |
| 1989–90 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $3,750,000 |
| 1990–91 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $4,250,000 |
| 1991–92 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | $7,070,000 |
| 1992–93 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs | $5,720,000 |
| 1993–94 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs | $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 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | $33,140,000 |
| 1998–99 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks | $18,500,000 |
| 1999–2000 | Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers | $17,142,000 |
| 2000–01 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $19,600,000 |
| 2001–02 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $22,400,000 |
| 2002–03 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $25,200,000 |
| 2003–04 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $28,000,000 |
| 2004–05 | Shaquille O'Neal | Miami Heat | $27,696,430 |
| 2005–06 | Shaquille O'Neal | Miami Heat | $20,000,000 |
| 2006–07 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | $21,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | Kevin Garnett | Boston Celtics | $23,751,934 |
| 2008–09 | Kevin Garnett | Boston Celtics | $24,751,934 |
| 2009–10 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $23,034,375 |
| 2010–11 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $24,806,250 |
| 2011–12 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $25,244,493 |
| 2012–13 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $30,453,805 |
| 2013–14 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $30,453,805 |
| 2014–15 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $23,500,000 |
| 2015–16 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | $25,000,000 |
| 2016–17 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers | $30,963,450 |
| 2017–18 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $34,682,550 |
| 2018–19 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $37,457,154 |
| 2019–20 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $40,231,758 |
| 2020–21 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $43,006,362 |
| 2021–22 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $45,780,966 |
| 2022–23 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $48,070,014 |
| 2023–24 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $51,915,615 |
| 2024–25 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $55,761,216 |
| 2025–26 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $59,606,817 |
| 2026–27 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $62,587,158 |
| 2027–28 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | $62,841,702 |
| 2028–29 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | $67,116,798 |
FAQ's on Highest Paid NBA Players
A. Steph Curry, playing for the Golden State Warriors, is earning $55,761,216 in the 2024-25 season.
A. 49 NBA players are earning at least $30 million in salary this season before incentives as of May 2025.
A. Jayson Tatum signed the largest NBA Contract in NBA history with the Boston Celtics for five years that is worth $315 million.
A. LeBron James is the highest-paid NBA player in history with total earnings of approximately $479.47 million.
A. Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs is the highest-paid NBA coach, earning $16 million per year.
