NBA’s Top 50 Highest-Paid Players For 2026/27

Many of the NBA’s highest-paid players have contracts that are considered maximum salary deals, but these players’ 2026/27 salaries vary significantly depending on when the player signed the contract and how much NBA experience he has. This is why, for example, Stephen Curry will earn nearly $22 million more than Tyrese Maxey in ’26/27, despite both players technically being on max contracts.

When a player signs a maximum salary contract, he doesn’t necessarily earn the NBA maximum for each season of that contract — he earns the maximum in the first year and then receives a series of equal annual raises. In Curry’s case, that’s actually his salary in 2026/27 exceeds this year’s maximumas annual cap increases since he started earning the maximum have not kept up with his 8% annual raises.

Ahead of the 2026/27 season, Curry once again tops the list of the NBA’s 50 highest-paid players, as shown below.

The players on this list don’t necessarily have the biggest contracts in general value. This top 50 includes only the current year in the league with a player’s base salary for 26/27. In addition, we noted which players could potentially increase their earnings with incentives.

Twenty-five of the 30 teams are listed below, and only the Hawks, Hornets, Bulls, Grizzlies and Bucks don’t have at least one player ranked among the league’s 50 highest-paid players.

Here are the 50 highest-paid NBA players for the 2026/27 season:

1. Stephen CurryWarriors: $62,587,158
2. Nikola JokicNuggets: $59,033,114
3. Janis AntecumpaHeat: $58,456,566
   Anthony DavisWizards: $58,456,566
   Jason TatumCeltics: $58,456,566
6. Joel EmbiidSixers: $57,985,752
7. Jaylen BrownSixers: $57,736,350
8. Devin BookerSun: $57,078,728
   Karl-Anthony TownsKnicks: $57,078,728
10. Jimmy ButlerWarriors: $56,832,773
11. Pavel GeorgeCeltics: $54,126,380
12. Kawhi LeonardRaptors: $50,300,000
13. Cade Cunninghampistons: $50,105,628
    Donovan MitchellCavaliers: $50,105,628
    Evan MobleyCavaliers: $50,105,628
    Jamal MurrayNuggets: $50,105,628
17. Bam AdebayoHeat: $49,488,300
    Luka DoncicLakers: $49,488,300
    De’Aaron FoxSpurs: $49,488,300
    Trey YoungWizards: $49,488,300
21. Jaren Jackson JrJazz: $49,000,000
22. Zach Lavinnecklace: $48,967,380
23. Anthony EdwardsTimberwolves: $48,924,624
    Tyrese HalliburtonPacers: $48,924,624
    Pascal SiakamPacers: $48,924,624
26. Lauri MarkkanenJazz: $46,113,154
27. Damantas Sabonisnecklace: $45,472,000
    • Sabonis could earn another $2,600,000 in unlikely incentives.
28. Kevin DurantRockets: $43,902,439
29. And AnunobyKnicks: $42,500,000
30. Darius Garlandclippers: $42,166,510
    Ja MorantTrail Blazers: $42,166,510
    Zion WilliamsonPelicans: $42,166,510
33. Scotty BarnesRaptors: $41,754,690
    Franz WagnerMagic: $41,754,690
35. Paolo BuncheraMagic: $41,240,250
    Chet HolmgrenThunder: $41,240,250
    Austin ReevesLakers: $41,240,250
    Jalen WilliamsThunder: $41,240,250
39. Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderThunder: $40,806,150
    Michael Porter JrNets: $40,806,150
41. Lamela’s ballTimberwolves: $40,770,520
    Tyrese MaxeySixers: $40,770,520
43. Jalen DurenPistons: $40,160,643
44. Brandon IngramClippers: $40,000,000
45. Kyrie IrvingMavericks: $39,491,282
46. Desmond BaneMagic: $39,446,090
    • Bain stands to earn another $1,324,430 in unlikely incentives.
47. Jalen BrunsonKnicks: $37,739,521
48. Rudy GoberTimberwolves: $36,500,000
49. Jalen GreenSun: $36,251,166
50. Alperen SengunRockets: $35,642,202

For the first time in NBA history, a base salary above $35 million is required to earn a spot on the league’s 50 highest-paid players list. Trail Blazers security guard Jrue’s holidaywho earns $34.8 million in 2026/27, fell short at No. 51.

This is also worth mentioning Pelicans security guard Jordan Poolewhose base salary of $34,044,642 ranks 53rd among players for 26/27. Poole’s deal includes another $4.25 million in unlikely incentives, so if he meets certain criteria and earns some or all of the bonuses, he could push Senggun off the top-50 list by season’s end.

That’s unlikely, however, as several of Poole’s bonuses are tied to end-of-season honors such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA and All-Defensive. It would be a big surprise if the veteran guards were in the running for either of those awards this season.

While many of the names on this top 50 list are the same as last season, two notable veterans are missing after taking a pay cut in the offseason: LeBron Jameswho signed a minimum-salary contract with the Sixers after earning $52,627,153 with the Lakers through the 2025-26 season, and James Harden.