The highest-paid NBA players by season has recently eclipsed $40 million. Wilt Chamberlain has the most seasons leading the league with 8. Michael Jordan holds the largest 1-year contract in NBA history, LeBron James is the highest career earner, and Stephen Curry is the highest season earner as well as the largest multi-year contract holder in NBA history.
During the 1946–47 season Joe Fulks was the highest paid player ($8,000) in the Basketball Association of America and Bob Davies was the highest paid player ($12,500) of the National Basketball League.
George Mikan became the first player to earn $15,000 per season in the 1948–49 season.
Wilt Chamberlain was the first player to receive $100,000 in the 1965–66 season. That same season, Bill Russell became just the second player to receive over $100,000.
Moses Malone & Bill Walton were the first players to earn $1 million in a season, they were paid exactly $1,000,000 in the 1979–80 season.
Larry Bird became the first player to earn $5 million or more with a salary of $7,070,000 in the 1991–92 season.
Magic Johnson became the first player to earn $10 million or more in the 94–95 season with a salary of $14,660,000.
Patrick Ewing became the first player to earn $15 million or more in the 95–96 season with a salary of $18,724,000.
Michael Jordan became the first NBA player to sign a contract worth over $20 million and $30 million in a season (1996–97) and earned $33,140,000 in the 1997–98 season, setting the record for the largest 1-year contract in NBA history, and held the overall record for over 20 years. Kobe Bryant became just the second player to eclipse $30 million when the 2013–14 season began. LeBron James became the third in the 2016–17 season .
Stephen Curry signed a record 5-year contract worth $201 million in 2017 with a starting payout of $34,682,550 in the 2017–18 season, setting a new single-season record in earnings. He became the first player to eclipse $40 million in the 2019–20 season. After signing a 4-year contract extension worth $215 million in 2021, Curry went on to become the first player to eclipse $50 million in the 2023–24 season and is expected to be the first NBA player to eclipse $60 million in the 2026–27 season, having signed a contract worth $62,587,158.
Starting from the 1984–85 NBA season , the NBA's first salary cap was introduced. The NBA salary cap is the maximum dollar amount each NBA team can spend on its players for the season. However, the NBA uses a "soft" salary cap, which allow NBA teams to exceed their allotted amount in order to sign players through significant "salary exceptions". The salary cap is determined during the offseason, but is liable to change.
An exception is necessary to sign a player for a contract that would exceed the salary cap threshold of the "soft cap". The Larry Bird exception, more commonly known as Bird Rights, allows teams to re-sign a current player only if he has played for that particular team for a minimum of three years. Another exception, known as the mid-level exception, allows for teams that are over the salary cap to sign one or more players as long as they do not exceed the total amount of the average NBA salary. Next, the bi-annual exception can be used by teams every other year to sign a free agent(s) for up to two years at an amount set by the NBA. Finally, the rookie player exception allows any NBA team to sign their first-round draft pick to a contract based upon a scale previously set forth by the NBA. Another option for teams would be to assign players to a league-assigned minimum salary contract for a maximum of two years.
Highest-paid player by season
Year Player Team Salary Upcoming Seasons (including Player Options) Joe Fulks Philadelphia Warriors $8,000 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $12,500 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $15,000 $15,000 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $15,000 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $15,000 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers $20,000 $20,000 Bob Cousy Boston Celtics $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia 76ers $30,000 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia 76ers $65,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000 $65,000 * Bill Russell Boston Celtics $100,001 $100,001 Bill Bradley New York Knicks $125,000 Wilt Chamberlain Los Angeles Lakers $250,000 Wilt Chamberlain Los Angeles Lakers $250,000 Pete Maravich Atlanta Hawks $380,000 $380,000 $380,000 Ernie DiGregorio Buffalo Braves $500,000 Ernie DiGregorio Buffalo Braves $500,000 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers $650,000 $650,000 $650,000 David Thompson Denver Nuggets $800,000 Moses Malone Philadelphia 76ers $1,000,000 Julius Erving Philadelphia 76ers $1,000,000 Otis Birdsong New Jersey Nets $1,000,000 Moses Malone Philadelphia 76ers $2,200,000 $2,200,000 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers $2,500,000 $2,500,000 $2,500,000 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks $2,750,000 $3,250,000 $3,750,000 $4,250,000 Larry Bird Boston Celtics $7,070,000 David Robinson San Antonio Spurs $5,720,000 $5,740,000 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers $14,660,000 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks $18,724,000 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls $30,140,000 $33,140,000 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks $18,500,000 Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers $17,142,000 Kevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves $19,600,000 $22,400,000 $25,200,000 $28,000,000 Shaquille O'Neal Miami Heat $27,696,430 $20,000,000 Kevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves $21,000,000 Boston Celtics $23,751,934 $24,751,934 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers $23,034,375 $24,806,250 $25,244,493 $30,453,805 $30,453,805 $23,500,000 $25,000,000 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers $30,963,450 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors $34,682,550 $37,457,154 $40,231,758 $43,006,362 $45,780,966 $48,070,014 $51,915,615 $55,761,216 $59,606,817 2026–27 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors $62,587,158 2027–28 Nikola Jokić Denver Nuggets $62,841,702 2028–29 Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers $67,396,000 2029–30 Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics $71,446,914 2030–31 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Oklahoma City Thunder $75,646,200
Highest career earners
Rank Player Start End Salary 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Updated through the 2025–26 NBA season LeBron James 2003–04 Present $581,375,548 Kevin Durant 2007–08 Present $501,135,653 Stephen Curry 2009−10 Present $470,141,507 James Harden 2009–10 Present $411,406,674 Paul George 2010–11 Present $406,203,976 Chris Paul 2005–06 Present $404,526,572 Kawhi Leonard 2011–12 Present $375,772,011 Jimmy Butler 2011–12 Present $366,174,318 Damian Lillard 2012–13 Present $365,371,691 Anthony Davis 2012–13 Present $364,454,284
Rank Player Start End Salary 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Updated through end of All Current Contracts, as of 2025−26 Kevin Durant 2007–08 Present $591,135,653 LeBron James 2003–04 Present $581,375,548 Stephen Curry 2009–10 Present $532,728,665 Devin Booker 2015–16 Present $520,335,108 Paul George 2010–11 Present $516,917,026 Joel Embiid 2014–15 Present $509,313,851 Anthony Davis 2012–13 Present $485,697,532 Damian Lillard 2012–13 Present $482,940,103 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2018–19 Present $469,632,400 Jayson Tatum 2017–18 Present $469,471,035
2020s
2025–2026
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $59,606,817 Golden State Warriors Joel Embiid $55,224,526 Philadelphia 76ers Nikola Jokić Denver Nuggets Kevin Durant $54,708,609 Houston Rockets Giannis Antetokounmpo $54,126,450 Milwaukee Bucks Jimmy Butler Golden State Warriors Anthony Davis Dallas Mavericks Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics Devin Booker $53,142,264 Phoenix Suns Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics Karl-Anthony Towns New York Knicks
2024–2025
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $55,761,216 Golden State Warriors Joel Embiid $51,415,938 Philadelphia 76ers Nikola Jokić Denver Nuggets Kevin Durant $51,179,021 Phoenix Suns Bradley Beal $50,203,930 Phoenix Suns Devin Booker $49,205,800 Phoenix Suns Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics Paul George Philadelphia 76ers Kawhi Leonard Los Angeles Clippers Karl-Anthony Towns New York Knicks
2023–2024
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $51,915,615 Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant $47,649,433 Phoenix Suns Joel Embiid $47,607,350 Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers Nikola Jokić Denver Nuggets Bradley Beal $46,741,590 Phoenix Suns Giannis Antetokounmpo $45,640,084 Milwaukee Bucks Paul George Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard Los Angeles Clippers Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks
2022–2023
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $48,070,014 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $44,474,988 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Durant $44,124,845 Brooklyn Nets/Phoenix Suns Bradley Beal $43,279,250 Washington Wizards Giannis Antetokounmpo $42,492,492 Milwaukee Bucks Paul George Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard Los Angeles Clippers Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers Klay Thompson $40,600,080 Golden State Warriors Kyrie Irving $39,060,807 Brooklyn Nets/Dallas Mavericks
2021–2022
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $45,780,966 Golden State Warriors James Harden $44,310,840 Brooklyn Nets/Philadelphia 76ers John Wall Houston Rockets Russell Westbrook $44,211,146 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Durant $42,018,900 Brooklyn Nets LeBron James $41,180,544 Los Angeles Lakers Giannis Antetokounmpo $39,344,900 Milwaukee Bucks Paul George Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard Los Angeles Clippers Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers
2020–2021
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $43,006,362 Golden State Warriors Chris Paul $41,358,814 Phoenix Suns Russell Westbrook Washington Wizards James Harden $41,254,920 Houston Rockets/Brooklyn Nets John Wall Houston Rockets Kevin Durant $40,108,950 Brooklyn Nets LeBron James $39,219,566 Los Angeles Lakers Paul George $35,450,412 Los Angeles Clippers Klay Thompson $35,361,360 Golden State Warriors Mike Conley $34,502,132 Utah Jazz
2019–2020
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $40,231,758 Golden State Warriors Chris Paul $38,506,482 Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook Houston Rockets Kevin Durant $38,199,000 Brooklyn Nets James Harden Houston Rockets John Wall Washington Wizards LeBron James $37,436,858 Los Angeles Lakers Kyle Lowry $34,996,296 Toronto Raptors Blake Griffin $34,449,964 Detroit Pistons Paul George $33,005,556 Los Angeles Clippers
2010s
2018–2019
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $37,457,154 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $35,665,000 Oklahoma City Thunder Chris Paul $35,654,150 Houston Rockets LeBron James $35,654,150 Los Angeles Lakers Kyle Lowry $32,700,000 Toronto Raptors Blake Griffin $31,873,932 Detroit Pistons Gordon Hayward $31,214,295 Boston Celtics James Harden $30,570,000 Houston Rockets Paul George $30,560,700 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley Jr. $30,521,115 Memphis Grizzlies
2017–2018
Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $34,682,550 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $33,285,709 Cleveland Cavaliers Paul Millsap $30,769,231 Denver Nuggets Gordon Hayward $29,727,900 Boston Celtics Blake Griffin $29,512,900 Los Angeles Clippers/Detroit Pistons Kyle Lowry $28,903,704 Toronto Raptors Mike Conley Jr. $28,530,608 Memphis Grizzlies Russell Westbrook $28,299,399 Oklahoma City Thunder James Harden $28,299,399 Houston Rockets DeMar DeRozan $27,739,975 Toronto Raptors
2016–2017
LeBron James became the third player to sign a contract worth over $30 million in a season, after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/the-nbas-25-highest-paid-players-for-the-2017-season-022817 title=The NBA's 25 highest-paid players for the 2016-17 season work=Foxsports.com access-date=2017-06-23}} Salary Team LeBron James $30,963,450 Cleveland Cavaliers Al Horford $26,540,100 Boston Celtics DeMar DeRozan $26,540,100 Toronto Raptors James Harden $26,540,100 Houston Rockets Kevin Durant $26,540,100 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $26,540,100 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley Jr. $26,540,100 Memphis Grizzlies Dirk Nowitzki $25,000,000 Dallas Mavericks Carmelo Anthony $24,559,380 New York Knicks Damian Lillard $24,328,425 Portland Trail Blazers
2015–2016
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2016 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2015-2016 publisher=ESPN access-date=2015-10-30}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $25,000,000 Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James $22,970,500 Cleveland Cavaliers Carmelo Anthony $22,875,000 New York Knicks Dwight Howard $22,359,364 Houston Rockets Chris Bosh $22,192,730 Miami Heat Chris Paul $21,468,695 Los Angeles Clippers Kevin Durant $20,158,622 Oklahoma City Thunder Derrick Rose $20,093,064 Chicago Bulls Dwyane Wade $20,000,000 Miami Heat LaMarcus Aldridge $19,689,000 San Antonio Spurs
2014–2015
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2015 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2014-2015 publisher=ESPN access-date=2015-01-17}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $23,500,000 Los Angeles Lakers Amar'e Stoudemire $23,410,988 New York Knicks Joe Johnson $23,180,790 Brooklyn Nets Carmelo Anthony $22,458,401 New York Knicks Dwight Howard $21,436,271 Houston Rockets Chris Bosh $20,644,400 Miami Heat LeBron James $20,644,400 Cleveland Cavaliers Chris Paul $20,068,563 Los Angeles Clippers Deron Williams $19,754,465 Brooklyn Nets Rudy Gay $19,317,326 Sacramento Kings
2013–2014
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2014 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2013-2014 publisher=ESPN access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $30,453,805 Los Angeles Lakers Dirk Nowitzki $22,721,381 Dallas Mavericks Amar'e Stoudemire $21,679,893 New York Knicks Joe Johnson $21,466,718 Brooklyn Nets Carmelo Anthony $21,388,953 New York Knicks Dwight Howard $20,513,178 Houston Rockets Pau Gasol $19,285,850 Los Angeles Lakers Chris Bosh $19,067,500 Miami Heat LeBron James $19,067,500 Miami Heat Dwyane Wade $18,673,000 Miami Heat
2012–2013
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2013 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2012-2013 publisher=ESPN access-date=2013-09-16}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $30,453,805 Los Angeles Lakers Dirk Nowitzki $20,907,128 Dallas Mavericks Amar'e Stoudemire $19,948,799 New York Knicks Joe Johnson $19,752,645 Brooklyn Nets Carmelo Anthony $19,444,503 New York Knicks Pau Gasol $19,285,850 Los Angeles Lakers Chris Bosh $19,067,500 Miami Heat LeBron James $19,067,500 Miami Heat Dwyane Wade $18,673,000 Miami Heat Chris Paul $18,668,431 Los Angeles Clippers
2011–2012
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2012 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2011-2012 publisher=ESPN access-date=2013-09-16}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $25,244,493 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Garnett $21,247,044 Boston Celtics Tim Duncan $21,164,619 San Antonio Spurs Rashard Lewis $21,136,631 Washington Wizards Dirk Nowitzki $19,092,873 Dallas Mavericks Pau Gasol $18,714,150 Los Angeles Lakers Carmelo Anthony $18,518,574 New York Knicks Amar'e Stoudemire $18,217,705 New York Knicks Elton Brand $18,160,355 Philadelphia 76ers Dwight Howard $18,091,770 Orlando Magic
2010–2011
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2011 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2010-2011 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2013-09-16}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $24,806,250 Los Angeles Lakers Rashard Lewis $19,573,711 Washington Wizards Tim Duncan $18,835,381 San Antonio Spurs Kevin Garnett $18,832,044 Boston Celtics Michael Redd $18,300,000 Milwaukee Bucks Andrei Kirilenko $17,823,000 Utah Jazz Pau Gasol $17,823,000 Los Angeles Lakers Gilbert Arenas $17,730,694 Washington Wizards Yao Ming $17,686,100 Houston Rockets Zach Randolph $17,666,666 Memphis Grizzlies
2009–2010
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2010 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2009-2010 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2013-09-16}} Salary Team Kobe Bryant $23,034,375 Los Angeles Lakers Jermaine O'Neal $23,016,000 Miami Heat Tracy McGrady $22,843,124 New York Knicks Tim Duncan $22,183,220 San Antonio Spurs Shaquille O'Neal $21,000,000 Cleveland Cavaliers Dirk Nowitzki $19,795,714 Dallas Mavericks Paul Pierce $19,795,712 Boston Celtics Ray Allen $18,776,860 Boston Celtics Rashard Lewis $18,010,791 Orlando Magic Michael Redd $17,040,000 Milwaukee Bucks
2000s
2008–2009
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2009 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2008-2009 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $24,751,934 Boston Celtics Jason Kidd $21,372,000 Dallas Mavericks Jermaine O'Neal $21,372,000 Toronto Raptors Kobe Bryant $21,262,500 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal $21,000,000 Phoenix Suns Allen Iverson $20,840,625 Detroit Pistons Stephon Marbury $20,840,625 Boston Celtics Tim Duncan $20,598,704 San Antonio Spurs Tracy McGrady $20,370,437 Houston Rockets Ray Allen $18,388,430 Boston Celtics
2007–2008
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2008 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2007-2008 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $23,751,934 Boston Celtics Shaquille O'Neal $21,000,000 Phoenix Suns Jason Kidd $19,728,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $19,728,000 Indiana Pacers Kobe Bryant $19,490,625 Los Angeles Lakers Tim Duncan $19,014,188 San Antonio Spurs Allen Iverson $19,012,500 Denver Nuggets Stephon Marbury $19,012,500 New York Knicks Tracy McGrady $18,257,750 Houston Rockets Baron Davis $16,440,000 Golden State Warriors
2006–2007
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2007 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2006-2007 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $21,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $20,000,000 Miami Heat Jason Kidd $18,084,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $18,084,000 Indiana Pacers Kobe Bryant $17,718,750 Los Angeles Lakers Tim Duncan $17,429,673 San Antonio Spurs Allen Iverson $17,184,375 Philadelphia 76ers Stephon Marbury $17,184,375 New York Knicks Tracy McGrady $16,901,500 Houston Rockets Grant Hill $16,901,500 Orlando Magic
2005–2006
url=https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries06.txt title=2005-2006 salaries publisher=eskimo.com access-date=June 12, 2018}} Salary Team Shaquille O'Neal $20,000,000 Miami Heat Allan Houston $19,125,000 New York Knicks Chris Webber $19,125,000 Philadelphia 76ers Kevin Garnett $18,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Allen Iverson $16,453,125 Philadelphia 76ers Stephon Marbury $16,453,125 New York Knicks Jason Kidd $16,440,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $16,440,000 Indiana Pacers Kobe Bryant $15,946,875 Los Angeles Lakers Michael Finley $15,937,500 Dallas Mavericks
2004–2005
url=https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries05.txt title=2004-2005 NBA salaries publisher=eskimo.com access-date=June 12, 2018}} Salary Team Shaquille O'Neal $27,696,430 Miami Heat Dikembe Mutombo $19,485,719 New Jersey Nets/Houston Rockets Allan Houston $17,531,250 New York Knicks Chris Webber $17,531,250 Sacramento Kings Kevin Garnett $16,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Jason Kidd $14,796,000 New Jersey Nets Jermaine O'Neal $14,796,000 Indiana Pacers Shareef Abdur-Rahim $14,625,000 Portland Trail Blazers Ray Allen $14,625,000 Seattle SuperSonics Penny Hardaway $14,625,000 New York Knicks Zydrunas Ilgauskas $14,625,000 Cleveland Cavaliers Allen Iverson $14,625,000 Philadelphia 76ers Stephon Marbury $14,625,000 New York Knicks Latrell Sprewell $14,625,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Antoine Walker $14,625,000 Atlanta Hawks
2003–2004
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2004 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2003-2004 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $28,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $26,571,000 Los Angeles Lakers Rasheed Wallace $18,000,000 Portland Trail Blazers Dikembe Mutombo $17,895,000 New York Knicks Allan Houston $15,937,000 New York Knicks Chris Webber $15,937,000 Sacramento Kings Damon Stoudamire $14,625,000 Portland Trail Blazers Penny Hardaway $13,500,000 Phoenix Suns Latrell Sprewell $13,500,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Antonio McDyess $13,500,000 Phoenix Suns
2002–2003
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2003 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2002-2003 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $25,200,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $23,571,000 Los Angeles Lakers Shawn Kemp $21,500,000 Orlando Magic Juwan Howard $20,625,000 Denver Nuggets Scottie Pippen $19,727,000 Portland Trail Blazers Karl Malone $19,250,000 Utah Jazz Rasheed Wallace $16,200,000 Portland Trail Blazers Dikembe Mutombo $16,105,000 New Jersey Nets Chris Webber $14,343,000 Sacramento Kings Damon Stoudamire $13,500,000 Portland Trail Blazers
2001–2002
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2002 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2001-2002 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $22,400,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $21,428,000 Los Angeles Lakers Alonzo Mourning $18,756,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $18,750,000 Denver Nuggets Scottie Pippen $18,083,000 Portland Trail Blazers Karl Malone $17,500,000 Utah Jazz Rasheed Wallace $14,400,000 Portland Trail Blazers Dikembe Mutombo $14,315,000 Philadelphia 76ers Gary Payton $12,926,000 Seattle SuperSonics Shawn Kemp $12,770,000 Portland Trail Blazers
2000–2001
url=https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2001 title=NBA Player Salaries - 2000-2001 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Kevin Garnett $19,600,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Shaquille O'Neal $19,285,000 Los Angeles Lakers Alonzo Mourning $16,879,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $16,875,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $16,685,000 Houston Rockets Karl Malone $15,750,000 Utah Jazz Dikembe Mutombo $14,422,000 Philadelphia 76ers Patrick Ewing $14,000,000 Seattle SuperSonics David Robinson $13,196,000 San Antonio Spurs Scottie Pippen $13,151,000 Portland Trail Blazers
1999–2000
url=http://espn.go.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2000 archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119085720/http://espn.go.com/nba/salaries/_/year/2000 url-status=dead archive-date=January 19, 2013 title=NBA Player Salaries - 1999-2000 publisher=ESPN (go.com) access-date=2014-02-01}} Salary Team Shaquille O'Neal $17,142,000 Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Garnett $16,806,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Alonzo Mourning $15,004,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $15,000,000 Washington Wizards Scottie Pippen $14,795,000 Portland Trail Blazers Karl Malone $14,000,000 Utah Jazz Larry Johnson $11,910,000 New York Knicks Gary Payton $11,020,000 Seattle SuperSonics Rasheed Wallace $10,800,000 Portland Trail Blazers Shawn Kemp $10,780,000 Cleveland Cavaliers
1990s
1998–1999
url=https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries99.txt title=NBA Player Salaries - 1998-1999 publisher=Eskimo.com access-date=July 29, 2018}} Salary Team Patrick Ewing $18,500,000 New York Knicks Shaquille O'Neal $17,000,000 Los Angeles Lakers David Robinson $14,841,000 San Antonio Spurs Kevin Garnett $14,000,000 Minnesota Timberwolves Alonzo Mourning $13,130,000 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $13,125,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $12,943,000 Houston Rockets Dikembe Mutombo $11,218,000 Atlanta Hawks Jayson Williams $11,000,000 New Jersey Nets Scottie Pippen $11,000,000 Houston Rockets
1997-1998
url=https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries98.txt title=NBA Player Salaries - 1997-1998 publisher=Eskimo.com access-date=July 29, 2018}} Salary Team Michael Jordan $33,140,000 Chicago Bulls Patrick Ewing $20,500,000 New York Knicks Horace Grant $14,285,714 Orlando Magic Shaquille O'Neal $12,857,143 Los Angeles Lakers David Robinson $12,397,440 San Antonio Spurs Alonzo Mourning $11,254,800 Miami Heat Juwan Howard $11,250,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $11,156,000 Houston Rockets Gary Payton $10,514,688 Seattle SuperSonics Dikembe Mutombo $9,615,187 Atlanta Hawks
1996-1997
url=https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries97.txt title=NBA Player Salaries - 1996-1997 publisher=Eskimo.com access-date=July 29, 2018}} Salary Team Michael Jordan $30,140,000 Chicago Bulls Horace Grant $14,857,000 Orlando Magic Reggie Miller $11,250,000 Indiana Pacers Shaquille O'Neal $10,714,000 Los Angeles Lakers Gary Payton $10,212,000 Seattle SuperSonics David Robinson $9,952,000 San Antonio Spurs Juwan Howard $9,750,000 Washington Wizards Hakeem Olajuwon $9,655,000 Houston Rockets Alonzo Mourning $9,380,000 Miami Heat Dennis Rodman $9,000,000 Chicago Bulls
1995-1996
url=https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/salaries96.txt title=NBA Player Salaries - 1995-1996 publisher=Eskimo.com access-date=July 29, 2018}} Salary Team Patrick Ewing $18,724,000 New York Knicks Clyde Drexler $9,810,000 Houston Rockets David Robinson $7,700,000 San Antonio Spurs Chris Webber $7,000,000 Washington Bullets Joe Dumars $6,881,000 Detroit Pistons Danny Manning $6,833,000 Phoenix Suns A.C. Green $6,473,000 Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal $5,700,000 Orlando Magic Derrick Coleman $5,476,000 Philadelphia 76ers Sean Elliott $5,333,000 San Antonio Spurs
