Player salaries in the NBA sure aren't what they used to be.
During the 1999-2000 season, Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal was the league's highest-paid player with a salary of $17.1 million. Fast forward to the 2022-23 season, and a total of 80 players made more than O'Neal did that year. That list includes a number of all-time greats, as well as role players.
Salaries should continue to rise as well. Nikola Jokic recently signed the richest contract in NBA history. With a new TV deal on the horizon that is expected to increase the salary cap, which would further impact player salaries, it's only a matter of time until someone surpasses Denver's superstar in the record books.
While Jokic currently has the biggest contract in the NBA, he won't actually be the highest-paid player in the league next season. That honor goes to a Baby Faced Assassin in the Bay Area.
The NBA's 25 highest-paid players in 2023-24
Stephen Curry will make $51.9 million in the 2023-24 season, making him the highest-paid player in the NBA.
Close behind the Warriors star is Kevin Durant, who will earn $47.6 million next season. Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and LeBron James are then tied for third place with a salary of $46.9 million.
According to Spotrac, Curry, Durant, Jokic, Embiid and James are five of 17 players who will earn at least $40 million next season. That list includes Phoenix's Bradley Beal, Golden State's Klay Thompson, Minnesota's Rudy Gobert and Chicago's Zach LaVine.
| Rank | Player | Team | Salary |
| 1 | Stephen Curry | Warriors | $51,915,615 |
| 2 | Kevin Durant | Suns | $47,649,433 |
| 3 | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | $46,900,000 |
| Joel Embiid | 76ers | $46,900,000 | |
| LeBron James | Lakers | $46,900,000 | |
| 6 | Bradley Beal | Suns | $46,741,590 |
| 7 | Paul George | Clippers | $45,640,165 |
| 8 | Damian Lillard | Trail Blazers | $45,640,084 |
| Kawhi Leonard | Clippers | $45,640,084 | |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | $45,640,084 | |
| 11 | Jimmy Butler | Heat | $45,183,960 |
| 12 | Klay Thompson | Warriors | $43,219,440 |
| 13 | Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | $41,000,000 |
| 14 | Anthony Davis | Lakers | $40,600,080 |
| 15 | Trae Young | Hawks | $40,064,220 |
| Zach LaVine | Bulls | $40,064,220 | |
| Luka Doncic | Mavericks | $40,064,220 | |
| 18 | Tobias Harris | 76ers | $39,270,150 |
| 19 | Ben Simmons | Nets | $37,893,408 |
| Pascal Siakam | Raptors | $37,893,408 | |
| 21 | Jrue Holiday | Bucks | $36,861,707 |
| 23 | Devin Booker | Suns | $36,016,200 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | Celtics | $36,016,200 | |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | $36,016,200 | |
| 25 | C.J. McCollum | Pelicans | $35,802,469 |
Boston's Kristaps Porzingis exercised a player option in his contract for the 2023-24 season, while Khris Middleton did not, making him an unrestricted free agent. Middleton was set to place in the top 25 but his placement could change depending on his new contract.
The richest contracts in the NBA
Nikola Jokic currently has the biggest contract in the NBA at $272.0 million dollars. Bradley Beal is the only other player on a contract that exceeds $250 million.
| Rank | Player | Team | Contract |
| 1 | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | $272,020,000 |
| 2 | Bradley Beal | Suns | $251,019,650 |
| 3 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | $228,200,420 |
| 4 | Devin Booker | Suns | $224,224,000 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | $224,224,000 | |
| 6 | Stephen Curry | Warriors | $215,353,664 |
| 7 | Trae Young | Hawks | $215,159,700 |
| Zach LaVine | Bulls | $215,159,700 | |
| Luka Doncic | Mavericks | $215,159,700 | |
| 10 | Joel Embiid | 76ers | $210,112,000 |
