NBA contracts sure aren't what they used to be.
When the Spurs selected Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, he signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract. Fast forward almost 30 years, Victor Wembanyama inked a four-year contract that will pay him over $50 million after being selected by the Spurs with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Wembanyama's deal still pales in comparison to the likes of Nikola Jokic, LeBron James and Jayson Tatum, but he'll be one of the higher-paid players at his position immediately.
Here's everything you need to know about Wembanyama's rookie contract with the Spurs.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama is built for the hype around Summer League debut
Victor Wembanyama contract details
Wembanyama signed a four-year contract with the Spurs. The first two seasons are guaranteed, and the last two seasons are team options.
Wembanyama's salary will start at $12.2 million and increase to $16.9 million in 2026-27, per Spotrac.
| Season | Victor Wembanyama's salary |
| 2023-24 | $12,160,680 |
| 2024-25 | $12,768,960 |
| 2025-26 | $13,376,880 (TO) |
| 2026-27 | $16,868,246 (TO) |
Wembanyama's rookie contract is worth a total of $55.2 million. For comparison, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Brandon Miller, signed a four-year, $49.4 million contract. The No. 3 pick, Scoot Henderson, signed a four-year, $44.4 million contract.
Where Victor Wembanyama ranks among NBA's highest-paid centers
Wembanyama's contract makes him one of the highest-paid players at his position. Among centers, he ranks 15th in total value and 21st in average value.
Nikola Jokic has the richest contract of any center. Anthony Davis will have the highest average salary when his new extension kicks in.
| Player | Years | Total | Average |
| Nikola Jokic | 5 | $276,122,630 | $55,224,526 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 4 | $222,656,000 | $55,664,000 |
| Joel Embiid | 4 | $213,280,928 | $53,320,232 |
| Rudy Gobert | 5 | $205,000,002 | $41,000,000 |
| Anthony Davis | 5 | $189,903,600 | $37,980,720 |
| Bam Adebayo | 5 | $163,000,300 | $32,600,060 |
| Deandre Ayton | 4 | $132,929,128 | $33,232,282 |
| Jarrett Allen | 5 | $100,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 4 | $80,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| Jusuf Nurkic | 4 | $70,000,000 | $17,500,000 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 4 | $61,980,000 | $15,495,000 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 4 | $60,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Nikola Vucevic | 3 | $60,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 4 | $60,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 4 | $55,174,766 | $13,793,692 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 4 | $50,000,000 | $12,500,000 |
