From LeBron and KD to Steph and Giannis and beyond, Boardroom highlights the top 40 most expensive NBA players of 2022-23 by total salary.
Who’s the highest-paid player in the NBA? Well, it depends on how you measure it.
If it’s a matter of all-time career earnings, LeBron James has no equal. If we’re talking single-year salary for the 2022-23 season, Stephen Curry is your guy. If you want total value, Nikola Jokic’s supermax deal set a new NBA record — but it doesn’t kick in until 2023-24. Meanwhile, if you’re more into average annual value over the course of an active contract, boom, it’s Steph again.
All told, there are 10 NBA players scheduled to make over $40 million in on-court salary this season, as well as an incredible 41 players set to make more than $30 million. With that in mind, let’s dive into the ultimate list of the highest-paid NBA players of 2022-23.
(And be sure to check out Boardroom’s salary roundups for NFL and MLB players, too.)
Stay Ahead of the Game, Get Our Newsletters
Subscribe for the biggest stories in the business of sports and entertainment, daily.
Highest-paid NBA Players of 2022-23 by Total Salary
All salary figures via Spotrac.
1. Warriors PG Stephen Curry: $45,780,966
- Contract: 4 years, $215,353,664
- Average annual value: $53,838,416
2. Lakers PG Russell Westbrook: $47,063,478
- Contract: 5 years, $206,794,070 (supermax)
- Average annual value: $41,358,814
3. Lakers SF LeBron James: $44,474,988
- Contract: 2 years, $85,655,532
- Average annual value: $42,827,766
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of LeBron James’ contract extension with the Lakers that begins in 2023-24.
4. Wizards SG Bradley Beal: $43,279,250
- Contract: 5 years, $251,019,650
- Average annual value: $50,203,930
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of Bradley Beal’s max contract extension with the Wizards.
5. Nets SF Kevin Durant: $42,969,845
- Contract: 4 years, $164,255,700
- Average annual value: $41,063,925
- Click here to read Boardroom’s exclusive breakdown of Kevin Durant’s contract extension with the Nets.
6. Clippers SG/SF Paul George: $42,492,568
- Contract: 4 years, $176,265,466
- Average annual value: $44,066,367
t-7. Bucks PF Giannis Antetokounmpo: $42,492,492
- Contract: 5 years, $228,200,420 (supermax)
- Average annual value: $45,640,084
t-7. Trail Blazers PG Damian Lillard: $42,492,492
- Contract: 4 years, $176,265,152 (supermax)
- Average annual value: $44,066,288
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of Damian Lillard’s max contract extension with the Blazers that begins in 2025-26.
t-7. Clippers SF Kawhi Leonard: $42,492,492
- Contract: 4 years, $176,265,152
- Average annual value: $44,066,288
10. Warriors SG Klay Thompson: $40,600,080
- Contract: 5 years, $189,903,600
- Average annual value: $37,980,720
11. Jazz C Rudy Gobert: $38,172,414
- Contract: 5 years, $205,000,002
- Average annual value: $41,000,000
12. Lakers PF Anthony Davis: $37,980,720
- Contract: 5 years, $189,903,600
- Average annual value: $37,980,720
13. Bucks SG/SF Khris Middleton: $37,948,276
- Contract: 5 years, $177,500,000
- Average annual value: $35,500,000
14. Heat SG/SF Jimmy Butler: $37,653,300
- Contract: 4 years, $140,790,600
- Average annual value: $35,197,650
15. 76ers SF Tobias Harris: $37,633,050
- Contract: 5 years, $180,000,000
- Average annual value: $36,000,000
t-16. Mavericks PG/SG Luka Dončić: $37,096,500
- Contract: 5 years, $215,159,700
- Average annual value: $43,031,940
t-16. Hawks PG Trae Young: $37,096,500
- Contract: 5 years, $215,159,700
- Average annual value: $43,031,940
t-16. Bulls PG/SG Zach LaVine: $37,096,500
- Contract: 5 years, $215,159,700
- Average annual value: $43,031,940
19. Nets PG Kyrie Irving: $36,503,300
- Contract: 4 years, $136,490,600
- Average annual value: $34,122,650
t-20. Raptors PF Pascal Siakam: $33,003,936
- Contract: 4 years, $136,905,216
- Average annual value: $34,226,304
t-20. Nets PG/PF Ben Simmons: $33,003,936
- Contract: 5 years, $177,243,360
- Average annual value: $35,448,672
t-22. Suns SG Devin Booker: $31,650,600
- Contract: 5 years, $158,253,000
- Average annual value: $31,650,600
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of Booker’s supermax contract extension with the Suns that begins in 2024-25
t-22. Timberwolves PF/C Karl-Anthony Towns: $31,650,600
- Contract: 5 years, $158,253,000
- Average annual value: $31,650,600
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of Towns’ supermax contract extension with the Timberwolves that begins in 2024-25
t-22. Wizards PF/C Kristaps Porzingis: $31,650,600
- Contract: 5 years, $158,253,000
- Average annual value: $31,650,600
t-25. 76ers C Joel Embiid: $31,579,390
- Contract: 5 years $147,710,050
- Average annual value: $29,542,010
- NOTE: Embiid’s four-year, $210,112,000 supermax extension with the Sixers begins in 2023-24.
t-25. Warriors SF Andrew Wiggins: $33,616,770
- Contract: 5 years, $147,710,050
- Average annual value: $29,542,010
27. Pelicans SG C.J. McCollum: $33,333,333
- Contract: 3 years, $100,000,000
- Average annual value: $33,333,333
- NOTE: McCollum’s two-year, $64,000,000 extension with the Pelicans begins in 2024-25.
28. 76ers PG James Harden: $33,000,000
- Contract: 2 years, $68,640,000
- Average annual value: $34,320,000
- Click here to read Boardroom’s full breakdown of James Harden’s contract extension with the Sixers.
29. Bucks PG/SG Jrue Holiday: $32,544,000
- Contract: 4 years, $134,997,333
- Average annual value: $33,749,333
30. Nuggets C Nikola Jokic: $32,478,838
- Contract: 5 years, $147,710,050
- Average annual value: $29,542,010
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of Jokic’s supermax contract extension with the Nuggets that begins in 2023-24.
t-31. Nuggets PG Jamal Murray: $31,650,600
- Contract: 5 years, $158,253,000
- Average annual value: $31,650,600
t-31. Pelicans SF Brandon Ingram: $31,650,600
- Contract: 5 years, $158,253,000
- Average annual value: $31,650,600
33. Timerwolves PG/SG D’Angelo Russell: $31,377,750
- Contract: 4 years, $117,325,500
- Average annual value: $29,331,375
t-34. Suns C Deandre Ayton: $30,913,750
- Contract: 4 years, $132,929,128
- Average annual value: $33,232,282
- Click here to read Boardroom’s breakdown of Ayton’s rookie max contract extension with the Suns
t-34. Thunder PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: $30,913,750
- Contract: 5 years, $179,299,750
- Average annual value: $35,859,950
t-34. Nuggets SF/PF Michael Porter Jr.: $30,913,750
- Contract: 5 years, $179,299,750
- Average annual value:
t-37. Celtics SF/PF Jayson Tatum: $30,351,780
- Contract: 5 years, $163,000,300
- Average annual value: $32,600,060
t-37. Cavaliers SG Donovan Mitchell: $30,351,780
- Contract: 5 years, $163,000,300
- Average annual value: $32,600,060
t-37. Heat PF/C Bam Adebayo: $30,351,780
- Contract: 5 years, $163,000,300
- Average annual value: $32,600,060
t-37. Kings PG De’Aaron Fox: $30,351,780
- Contract: 5 years, $163,000,300
- Average annual value: $32,600,060
Other Notable 2022-23 NBA Salaries
44. Suns PG Chris Paul: $28,400,000
48. Celtics SG Jaylen Brown: $26,669,643
50. Warriors PF/C Draymond Green: $25,806,469
51. Knicks PF Julius Randle: $23,760,000
81. Celtics PG/SG Marcus Smart: $17,207,142
106. Pelicans PF Zion Williamson: $13,534,817
119. Grizzlies PG Ja Morant: $12,119,440
126. Magic PF Paolo Banchero: $11,055,120
130. Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards: $10,733,400
162. Hornets PG LaMelo Ball: $8,623,920
Read More:
