In today’s NBA, it isn’t crazy to see a bunch of players signing lucrative contract offers from different teams. Most of the big bucks are given to the team’s best players, but there are quite a few complimentary players who earn more than the stars. But to put it into perspective, the vast majority of the highest earning players in the league are indeed the best players in their respective franchises.
In this list, we will name every NBA team’s highest earning player this upcoming 2023-2024 season. While most of the names in this list consist of every team’s franchise player, there are still quite a few who earn more than their superstars counterparts.
Atlanta Hawks – Trae Young ($40 million)
Young has been earning like a superstar for Atlanta within the past few years and will continue to do so until 2027. He is the Hawks’ best player and franchise star since they acquired him via a draft trade with Dallas in 2018.
Boston Celtics – Kristaps Porzingis ($36 million)
Jaylen Brown will take over this spot once his record contract extension kicks in for the 2024-25 season. Until then, Porzingis will headline Boston’s payroll next season. If he could help the Celtics to championship run in 2024, then this insane amount will be justified.
Brooklyn Nets – Ben Simmons ($37 million
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Simmons may have played sparingly within the last few years, but he’s getting paid like a superstar despite his shortcomings as a player for Brooklyn. If the Nets fail to trade him next season, he’ll be due a whopping $40 million while averaging measly numbers for them.
Charlotte Hornets – Gordon Hayward ($31 million)
The Hornets thought they’d be getting the all-star version of Hayward when they gave him an expensive contract, but the former Butler Bulldog player has struggled in his time in Buzz City. This will be the last year of Hayward’s contract and Charlotte is eager to move on from this one.
Chicago Bulls – Zach Lavine ($40 million)
Chicago had no choice but to overpay Lavine as he’s their best shot for playoff contention within the foreseeable future. But Lavine’s game is best suited as the second or third option for a contender.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Darius Garland ($34 million)
Garland is a one-time all-star who can shoot the lights out on any given day against opposing teams. Still relatively young at 23, Garland’s still has plenty of room to improve and he meshes well with Donovan Mitchell on the team’s backcourt.
Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic ($40 million)
If it wasn’t for the salary cap restriction, Dallas would’ve offered Doncic more than $100 million per year for his services. This is a value contract for the Mavs as Doncic is one of the best players in this era.
Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokic ($47 million)
Many analysts agree that the Serbian big man is the best player in the league right now. Jokic recently carried the Nuggets to their first ever championship last season and could realistically hunt for more in this decade.
Detroit Pistons – Bojan Bogdanovic ($20 million)
The elder statesman of the team, Bogdanovic provides a steady veteran presence in this young Pistons team. Detroit loves what he brings to the table on a nightly basis and has refused to trade him to any contender within the last couple of years.
Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry ($51 million)
Curry is widely considered as the best shooter the world has even seen. He’s also the best American player in the league right now. Curry created a dynasty in Golden State, winning four titles in the past eight years.
Houston Rockets – Fred VanVleet ($40 million)
For an undrafted player like VanVleet, betting on his ability to succeed was a very good decision on his part. He is earning like a tier-one superstar due to his hard work and persistence. It goes to show that if you have the determination to succeed, good things will come along your way.
Indiana Pacers – Bruce Brown ($22 million)
Brown’s contribution as a back-up point guard in Denver’s title run bore fruit as he was signed to a hefty 2-year $40 million contract by Indiana this offseason. He is a solid 6th man for any team and the Pacers are lucky to have him.
LA Clippers – Paul George/Kawhi Leonard ($45 million)
Both players are signed to similar contracts and are poised to earn the lion’s share on this Clippers’ team next season. The duo’s potential has been great on paper but injuries have kept them from steering the Clippers into title contention the past couple of years.
LA Lakers – LeBron James ($47 million)
At 38 years old, LeBron is still considered as one of the best players in the world. He is essentially a billionaire due to his savvy investments off the court and his empire keeps on growing.
Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant ($34 million)
The high-flying Morant has been involved in some troubles recently, but if he gets his act together, he’ll catapult this Grizzlies team into title contention sooner rather than later. This is a value contract for the team because Morant clearly is a tier-one player in the league.
Miami Heat – Jimmy Butler ($45 million)
Jimmy’s road to NBA superstardom was not easy but he deserves this hefty contract because of his passion and determination to succeed. While Butler won’t give you monster numbers on a nightly basis, he is perhaps the league’s best two-way player right now.
Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($45 million)
The Greek Freak’s rise to the top wasn’t easy. He grew up hustling in the streets of Athens and saw basketball as his ticket out of poverty. The two-time MVP won every major award in his career, including a championship ring in 2021. The scary part is, he could add more to it as he’s still in his prime years.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Rudy Gobert ($41 million)
Not Karl-Anthony Towns or Anthony Edwards, but Rody Gobert sits atop the salary totem pole in Minny. He signed his massive 5-year, $205-million deal with the Jazz in 2020, but the French big-man and his giant contract were traded to the T-Wolves during the 2022 offseason.
New Orleans Pelicans – CJ McCollum ($35 million)
The Pelicans acquired McCollum ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, and they made him their highest paid player when they signed him to an extension before the start of the 2022-23 season. He’s now part of New Orleans’ big three, alongside Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
New York Knicks – Julius Randle ($28 million)
Randle is built like a tractor and is considered as one of the best power forwards in the league. His play has continuously improved in his time with the Knicks and there’s plenty of buzz around the team for the first time in quite a while.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($33 million)
Shai’s ascension from a great to a phenomenal player has been widely praised around the league circles. This young Thunder team is poised to become a huge problem in the league for years to come.
Orlando Magic – Jonathan Isaac ($17 million)
Isaac is far from being the Magic’s top player but he could potentially be if it wasn’t for the string of injuries he sustained during his time with the team. But there is still time to turn around the ship as he’s still far from entering his prime years.
Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid ($47 million)
The Sixers knew they had a special one in Embiid right from the start as they let him recuperate from his injuries by sitting him in his first couple of seasons in the league. He rewarded them with his exceptional talent and finally became a league MVP last season.
Phoenix Suns – Kevin Durant ($47 million)
Phoenix has four players who are earning more than $30 million per year next season. That’s a hefty price for this newly formed superteam. Durant earns the top spot due to his championship experience and for being one of the greatest scorers in league history.
Portland Trail Blazers – Damian Lillard ($45 million)
Lillard still holds this spot for now despite his desire to be traded before the next season starts in October. Lillard is probably the best player in franchise history and his massive contract is justifiable due to his stellar play on the court.
Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox ($32 million)
Fox’s steady growth as a player has been crucial to his team’s success last season. He and his pick-and-roll buddy, Domantas Sabonis, has brought the Kings from the bottom of the league to a perennial playoff threat for years to come.
San Antonio Spurs – Keldon Johnson ($20 million)
Johnson has been a steady player for San Antonio despite the struggles the team had in recent years. He has been a bright spot in a Spurs jersey and will continue to do so with the arrival of Victor Wembanyama.
Toronto Raptors – Pascal Siakam ($37 million)
Ever since he helped the Raptors to a NBA championship with a stellar playoff performance, Siakam has been a big part of the team. Unfortunately, the two-time All-Star appears to be on his way out of Toronto as trade rumors continue to swirl.
Utah Jazz – John Collins ($25 million)
After his name floated around the trade deadline for what felt like a decade, Collins was finally traded to Utah this offseason. But with Markkanen’s emergence as the team’s franchise player, Collins might have to improve other aspects of his game to earn his spot among the starters.
Washington Wizards – Jordan Poole ($27 million)
Poole will have his hands full as the main weapon for this young Wizards team coming into next season. The only knock on his game is consistency and he will have plenty of room to improve his game in a Wizards’ uniform.
