From supermax deals for Steph, Jokic, and Giannis to showstopping free agent deals, Boardroom rounds up the fattest stacks of cash ever to change hands in the long history of NBA contracts.
This summer, two NBA players signed contracts worth over a quarter of a billion dollars. The larger of the two is worth more by itself than all but seven players in league history have made in their entire careers through the 2021-22 season. Such is the growth trajectory of earnings in the NBA, a league in which 10 different players will earn more than $40 million this season alone and 41 will earn upwards of $30 million.
So, with Stephen Curry all but locked in as the Association’s highest single-season earner for the immediate future, does that mean he’s automatically one of the members of that $250 million contract club? Interestingly enough, while he’s the first player in NBA history to sign two different deals worth more than $200 million, he’s never touched a quarter-billion.
With that in mind, let’s round up the biggest NBA contracts in the history of the Association — starting with a very special Cal-Berkeley kid.
(And when you’re ready for more, check out our rundown of the highest-paid NBA players of 2022-23 and the highest-earning NBA players of all time.)
Biggest NBA Contracts of All Time by Total Value
All dollar figures reflect total contract value as noted by Spotrac.
1. Celtics SG/SF Jaylen Brown: $304,000,000
- Type: Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 5 (2024-29)
- Average Annual Value (AAV): $60,800,000
NOTE: Brown’s extension is the largest contract in NBA history by total value. It was previously No. 1 by average annual value before being surpassed by Anthony Davis. It is the first NBA deal ever to exceed an AAV of $60 million per season.
Click here to read the full details on Brown’s historic Celtics extension.
2. Nuggets C Nikola Jokić: $270,000,000
- Type: Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 5 (2023-28)
- Average Annual Value (AAV): $54,404,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into the Joker’s record-setting supermax deal.
3. Wizards SG Bradley Beal: $251,000,000
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 5 (2022-27)
- AAV: $50,203,930
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Beal’s extension.
4. Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo: $228,200,420
- Type: 35% Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 5 (2021-26)
- AAV: $45,640,084
t-5. Suns SG Devin Booker: $224,000,000
- Type: 35% Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 4 (2024-28)
- AAV: $56,056,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Booker’s supermax contract.
t-5. Timberwolves PF Karl-Anthony Towns: $224,000,000
- Type: 35% Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 4 (2024-28)
- AAV: $56,056,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into KAT’s supermax contract.
7. Kings PF/C Domantas Sabonis: $217,000,000
- Type: Renegotiation + Bird rights extension
- Years: 5
- Average annual value: $43,400,000
- Free agency: 2028
NOTE: Sabonis renegotiated his previously determined 2023-24 salary and added four new years onto his deal, including $195,000,000 in new money. If only the new additions to his deal are included, its effective average annual value is $48,750,000.
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Sabonis’ extension with SacTown.
8. Warriors PG Stephen Curry: $215,353,664
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 4 (2022-26)
- AAV: $53,838,416
t-9. Mavericks PG Luka Dončić: $215,159,700
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Curry’s contract.
- Type: 30% Designated Rookie Extension (“The Derrick Rose Rule”)
- Years: 5 (2022-27)
- AAV: $43,031,940
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Luka’s rookie max extension.
t-9. Bulls PG Zach LaVine: $215,200,000
- Type: 30% veteran max extension
- Years: 5 (2022-27)
- AAV: $43,031,940
t-9. Hawks PG Trae Young: $215,159,700
- Type: 30% Designated Rookie Extension (“The Derrick Rose Rule”)
- Years: 5 (2022-27)
- Free agency: $43,031,940
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Trae’s rookie max extension.
12. 76ers C Joel Embiid: $210,112,000
- Type: 35% Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 4 (2023-27)
- AAV: $52,528,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Embiid’s supermax deal.
t-13. Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards: $207,000,000
- Type: 25% Designated Rookie Extension
- Years: 5
- AAV: $41,400,000
NOTE: Edwards’ extension begins in 2024-25 at 25% of the salary cap but will escalate to 30% of the salary cap — an estimated total value of $260,000,000 — if he makes an All-NBA team in 2023-24 according to the collective bargaining agreement’s “Derrick Rose Rule.”
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Ant Man’s rookie max extension.
t-13. Hornets PG LaMelo Ball: $207,000,000
- Type: 25% Designated Rookie Extension
- Years: 5
- AAV: $41,400,000
NOTE: Ball’s extension begins in 2024-25 at 25% of the salary cap but will escalate to a $260,000,000 “Derrick Rose Rule” deal if he makes an All-NBA team in 2023-24.
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on LaMelo Ball’s rookie max extension.
t-13. Pacers PG/SG Tyrese Haliburton: $207,000,000
- Type: 25% Designated Rookie Extension
- Years: 5
- AAV: $41,400,000
NOTE: Haliburton’s extension begins in 2024-25 at 25% of the salary cap but will escalate to $260,000,000 “Rose Rule” deal if he makes an All-NBA team in 2023-24.
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive into Haliburton’s rookie max extension.
t-13. Grizzlies SG Desmond Bane: $207,000,000
- Type: Extension
- Years: 5
- AAV: $41,400,000
NOTE: Bane’s extension begins in 2024-25 at 25% of the salary cap but will escalate to a 30% “Rose Rule” contract worth approximately $260,000,000 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2023-24.
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17. Lakers PG Russell Westbrook: $206,794,070
- Type: 35% Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 5 (2018-23)
- AAV: $41,358,814
NOTE: Westbrook’s supermax deal was signed while he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
18. Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert: $205,000,002
- Type: 30% veteran max extension
- Years: 5 (2021-26)
- AAV: $41,000,000
NOTE: Gobert’s max deal was signed while he was a member of the Utah Jazz.
19. Warriors PG Stephen Curry: $201,158,790
- Type: 35% Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 5 (2017-22)
- AAV: $41,358,814
NOTE: Curry is the first player in NBA history to (1) sign an extension following a supermax and (2) sign two different contracts worth over $200,000,000 in total value. This deal is also the largest in NBA history that is not currently active as of this writing.
t-20. Grizzlies PG Ja Morant: $193,000,000
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2023-28)
- AAV: $38,860,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Morant’s extension.
t-20. Pelicans PF Zion Williamson: $193,000,000
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2023-28)
- AAV: $38,860,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Zion’s extension.
t-20. Cavaliers PG Darius Garland: $193,000,000
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2023-28)
- AAV: $38,860,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Garland’s extension.
23. Suns SF Kevin Durant: $194,219,320
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 4 (2022-26)
- AAV: $48,554,830
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on KD’s extension.
NOTE: KD’s deal was signed while he was a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
t-24. Warriors SG Klay Thompson: $189,903,600
- Type: 30% veteran max extension
- Years: 5 (2019-24)
- AAV: $37,980,720
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Klay’s contract.
t-24. Lakers PF/C Anthony Davis: $189,903,600
- Type: 30% veteran max extension
- Years: 5 (2020-25)
- AAV: $37,980,720
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on AD’s contract.
t-26. Lakers PF/C Anthony Davis: $186,000,000
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 3 (2025-28)
- AAV: $62,000,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Davis’ extension.
NOTE: This contract was the largest in NBA history by average annual value at time of signing, surpassing the previous record set by Jaylen Brown.
t-26. Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo: $186,000,000
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 3 (2025-28)
- AAV: $62,000,000
28. 76ers SF Tobias Harris: $180,000,000
- Type: 30% veteran max extension
- Years: 5 (2019-24)
- AAV: $36,000,000
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Harris’ contract.
t-29. Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: $179,299,750
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2022-27)
- AAV: $35,859,950
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on SGA’s contract.
t-29. Nuggets SF/PF Michael Porter Jr.: $179,299,750
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2022-27)
- AAV: $35,859,950
31. Bucks SG/SF Khris Middleton: $177,500,000
- Type: Bird rights extension
- Years: 5 (2019-24)
- AAV: $35,859,950
NOTE: Middleton’s deal with the Bucks was previously largest ever signed for less than max-eligible value (30% or 35% of the cap) in NBA history before being over taken by Domantas Sabonis in 2023.
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Middleton’s contract.
32. Nets PG Ben Simmons: $177,243,360
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2020-25)
- AAV: $35,448,672
NOTE: Simmons’ max deal was signed while he was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
33. Clippers SG/SF Paul George: $176,265,466
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 4 (2021-25)
- AAV: $44,066,367
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on PG13’s contract.
t-34. Clippers SF Kawhi Leonard: $176,265,152
- Type: 35% veteran max extension
- Years: 4 (2021-25)
- AAV: $44,066,288
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on PG13’s contract.
t-34. Trail Blazers PG Damian Lillard: $176,265,152
- Type: Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 4 (2021-25)
- AAV: $44,066,288
36. Celtics PF Blake Griffin: $171,174,820
- Type: Bird rights extension
- Years: 4 (2017-21)
- AAV: $34,234,964
NOTE: Griffin’s 2017 extension was signed while he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
t-37. 76ers PG James Harden: $171,131,520
- Type: Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 4 (2019-22)
- AAV: $42,782,880
NOTE: Harden’s supermax deal was signed while he was a member of the Houston Rockets.
t-37. Rockets PG John Wall: $171,131,520
- Type: Designated Veteran Player Extension (“supermax”)
- Years: 4 (2019-22)
- AAV: $42,782,880
NOTE: Wall’s supermax deal was signed while he was a member of the Washington Wizards.
39. Nets SF Kevin Durant: $164,255,700
- Type: 30% veteran max extension
- Years: 4 (2019-23)
- AAV: $41,063,925
NOTE: Durant’s 2019 max deal was signed while he was a member of the Golden State Warriors.
t-40. Celtics SF Jayson Tatum: $163,000,300
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2021-26)
- AAV: $32,600,060
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Tatum’s contract.
t-40. Kings PG De’Aaron Fox: $163,000,300
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2021-26)
- AAV: $32,600,060
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Fox’s contract.
t-40. Cavaliers PG Donovan Mitchell: $163,000,300
- Type: 25% rookie max extension
- Years: 5 (2021-26)
- AAV: $32,600,060
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Spida’s contract.
NOTE: Mitchell’s 2021 max deal was signed while he was a member of the Utah Jazz.
More Contracts & Salaries:
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