The top basketball players in the world are breaking the bank.
Jayson Tatum is the latest superstar to cash in. Fresh off his first NBA championship, the All-NBA forward inked a record-setting, supermax contract extension with the Boston Celtics that includes $314 million over five years starting with the 2025-26 season.
Tatum is now the owner of the NBA's most lucrative contract, taking the title from Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown, who signed a record-breaking contract in the 2023 offseason before going on to earn NBA Finals MVP honors.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Still, Tatum and Brown will not be the highest-paid players in 2024-25 as they attempt to defend their NBA title, and other rising superstars like Luka Doncic and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander are expected to surpass their total contract values as soon as next summer.
For now, here are the NBA's highest-paid players based on 2024-25 salary, 2025-26 salary, annual value and total contract value, as of Sept. 20, 2024. Annual value and total contract value take into account the contracts the players are playing under for the 2024-25 season, so Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, Joel Embiid and others who signed extensions this offseason are not featured as they continue to finish out their previous deals.
NBA's highest-paid players: 2024-25 season
1. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: $55,761,216
T-2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: $51,415,938
T-2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $51,415,938
4. Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns: $50,203,930
5. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns: $49,856,021
T-6. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $49,205,800
T-6. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: $49,205,800
T-6. Karl-Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $49,205,800
T-6. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers: $49,205,800
T-6. Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers: $49,205,800
NBA
NBA's highest-paid players: 2025-26 season
1. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: $59,606,817
T-2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: $55,224,526
T-2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $55,224,526
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: $54,126,450
T-5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: $54,126,380
T-5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: $54,126,380
T-5. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks: $54,126,380
8. Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns: $53,666,270
9. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns: $53,282,608
T-10. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $53,142,264
T-10. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: $53,142,264
T-10. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $53,142,264
NBA's highest-paid players: Annual value
1. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: $57,078,728
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $55,224,526
T-3. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $55,110,496
T-3. Karl-Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $55,110,496
5. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: $53,838,416
6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: $53,320,232
7. Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers: $52,896,235
8. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers: $51,987,227
9. Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns: $50,203,930
10. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers: $49,835,267
NBA's highest-paid players: Total contract value
1. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: $285,393,640
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: $276,122,630
3. Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns: $251,019,650
T-4. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves: $244,623,120
T-4. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers: $244,623,120
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo: $228,200,420
T-7. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: $220,441,984
T-7. Karl-Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves: $220,441,984
9. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: $215,353,664
T-10. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks: $215,159,700
T-10. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks: $215,159,700
T-10. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls: $215,159,700