NBA
The NBA’s 25 highest-paid players in 2024-25: Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic headline list | Sporting News
The NBA offseason is the real Christmas in July.
Just like the holiday season, money will start flying all over the place. Star players will sign extensions with their current teams, while others will find new money in free agency. For many, the price tag will be exorbitant.
NBA salaries have been rocketing upward. Just 10 years ago, in the 2014-15 season, Kobe Bryant was the highest-paid player in the NBA with a cap hit of $23.5 million. Even adjusting for inflation, that comes out to just over $31 million.
Last season, $23.5 million would rank 61st among all NBA player cap hits, slotting in right between RJ Barrett and Jordan Clarkson. With the inflated number of $31 million, it would rank 43rd between Jaylen Brown and Chris Paul.
Salaries aren’t heading down anytime soon. Heading into the 2024-25 season, which players are making the most money? Here’s what you need to know.
MORE: These are the top-50 NBA free agents
NBA’s 25 highest-paid players in 2024-25
For the eighth year in a row, Stephen Curry is slated to be the highest-paid player in the NBA. Spotrac lists his cap hit at $55,761,216, topping Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, who share second, by more than $4 million.
The difference between Curry and Jokic/Embiid is nearly the equivalent of the difference between second and 11th.
Heading into the season, there are 25 players that are lined up to make at least $40 million. Here’s a breakdown of the largest cap hits in the 2024-25 season.
| Rank | Player | Team | Cap Hit |
| 1 | Stephen Curry | Warriors | $55,761,216 |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | 76ers | $51,415,938 |
| 2 | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | $51,415,938 |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | Suns | $51,179,021 |
| 5 | Bradley Beal | Suns | $50,203,930 |
| 6 | Devin Booker | Suns | $49,350,000 |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics | $49,350,000 | |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | $49,350,000 | |
| Kawhi Leonard | Clippers | $49,350,000 | |
| 10 | Jimmy Butler | Heat | $48,798,677 |
| 11 | Damian Lillard | Bucks | $48,787,676 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | $48,787,676 | |
| Paul George | Clippers | $48,787,676 | |
| 14 | Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | $43,827,587 |
| 15 | Anthony Davis | Lakers | $43,219,440 |
| 16 | Luka Doncic | Mavericks | $43,031,940 |
| Trae Young | Hawks | $43,031,940 | |
| Zach LaVine | Bulls | $43,031,940 | |
| 19 | Fred VanVleet | Rockets | $42,846,615 |
| 20 | Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | $42,300,000 |
| Pascal Siakam | Pacers | $42,300,000 | |
| Tyrese Haliburton | Pacers | $42,300,000 | |
| 23 | Kyrie Irving | Mavericks | $41,000,000 |
| 24 | Domantas Sabonis | Kings | $40,500,000 |
| 25 | Ben Simmons | Nets | $40,338,144 |
Richest contracts in the NBA
Brown inked a massive five-year, $286 million extension with the Celtics before the start of the 2023-24 season, which became the richest contract in NBA history. The deal surpassed the previous record held by Jokic of $276 million over five years.
MORE: Andre Drummond, Obi Toppin among best sleepers in NBA free agency
Heading into the 2024-25 season, there are currently 16 contracts valued over $200 million, ranging from Brown to LaMelo Ball.
Here’s a look at the most expensive contracts in the NBA, according to Spotrac.
| Rank | Player | Team | Years Signed | Years | Value |
| 1 | Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 2024-2028 | 5 | $286,230,000 |
| 2 | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 2023-2027 | 5 | $276,122,630 |
| 3 | Bradley Beal | Suns | 2022-2026 | 5 | $251,019,650 |
| 4 | Tyrese Haliburton | Pacers | 2024-2028 | 5 | $245,340,000 |
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | 2024-2028 | 5 | $245,340,000 | |
| 6 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 2021-2025 | 5 | $228,200,420 |
| 7 | Scottie Barnes | Raptors | 2025-2029 | 5 | $224,895,000 |
| 8 | Devin Booker | Suns | 2024-2027 | 4 | $221,088,000 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | 2024-2027 | 4 | $221,088,000 | |
| 10 | Stephen Curry | Warriors | 2022-2025 | 4 | $215,353,664 |
| 11 | Trae Young | Hawks | 2022-2026 | 5 | $215,159,700 |
| Luka Doncic | Mavericks | 2022-2026 | 5 | $215,159,700 | |
| Zach LaVine | Bulls | 2022-2026 | 5 | $215,159,700 | |
| 14 | Joel Embiid | 76ers | 2023-2026 | 4 | $213,280,928 |
| 15 | Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | 2021-2025 | 5 | $205,000,002 |
| 16 | LaMelo Ball | Hornets | 2024-2028 | 5 | $204,450,000 |
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