Apr 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Apr 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The NBA’s shooting guard position has changed dramatically. Today’s best shooting guards are asked to create offense, knock down threes, and, in some cases, function as their team’s secondary point guard.
That versatility is showing up in the money they are getting paid. More so than ever, off-guards are making major dollars and laughing all the way to the bank. Just like the highest-paid point guards, the shooting guards are highly regarded in the modern NBA.
From former All-Stars and franchise cornerstones to young players, these are the 20 highest-paid shooting guards for the 2026-27 NBA season, ranked by salary.
20. Caris LeVert – $14,809,200
Caris LeVert has never fit into one box, and that’s honestly part of what has kept him valuable throughout his career. Is he a starting shooting guard? A sixth man? The answer has often been all of the above.
LeVert can create his own shot, run the pick-and-roll, and give a second unit a legitimate offensive engine when the starters need a break. He averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game over 60 games last season.
At just under $15 million, he doesn’t need to be an All-Star. His contract requires him to be useful, and LeVert has made a career out of being exactly that. For the tanking Milwaukee Bucks next season, LeVert could post better numbers.
19. Herb Jones – $14,898,786
Herb Jones might be one of the biggest bargains on this entire list, particularly on the defensive end (1.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG). His offensive numbers (8.9 PPG on 38.3% FG and 30.9% 3-PT FG) will never jump off the page like Devin Booker or Donovan Mitchell, but Jones does something that championship teams desperately need: he makes life miserable for the other team’s best player.
At 6’7″ with instincts and length, he can guard multiple positions with ease. The best defensive players rarely get the same attention as the guys scoring 30 points, but coaches absolutely understand Jones’ value.
A contract under $15 million for one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders is a bargain for the New Orleans Pelicans. The moment he adds more consistency offensively, this salary could look downright ridiculous.
18. Terance Mann – $15,500,000
Terance Mann (7.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.2 BPG) isn’t going to lead SportsCenter every night, and he probably prefers it that way. His game has always been about doing the little things that don’t always make the box score look pretty.
Mann can defend and play alongside stars without demanding any touches. Those players are incredibly valuable because they make complicated lineups simpler.
You can put Mann next to a high-usage superstar and know he won’t hijack possessions trying to prove he’s something he isn’t. At $15.5 million, you’re paying for versatility and reliability, and that’s money well spent for the Nets.
17. Keldon Johnson – $18,000,000
Keldon Johnson plays basketball like somebody personally offended him, and that is why he is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. He’s physical and aggressive, and he never seems particularly interested in taking the easy route to the basket.
Johnson’s two-way play has made him an important piece for the San Antonio Spurs during their Finals run last season. The two-guard averaged 13.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 0.6 SPG in the regular season and 7.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.9 APG, and 0.7 SPG in the playoffs.
Johnson has shown he can score in bunches, but can he do enough away from the ball to get his team over the hump? At $18 million, that’s what makes his contract interesting.
16. Grayson Allen – $18,125,000
Every playoff team needs shooting, and Grayson Allen has made a very good living by understanding that simple fact. The Hornets hope the two-way shooting guard can provide plenty of that for them in their post-LaMelo Ball era.
Allen is one of those players defenses cannot ignore. Leave him open, and he’ll make you pay. He shot 34.9% from deep last season, but his career mark stands at 40.3%. He’s also developed into a much more complete player than the “three-point specialist” label suggests.
Of course, Allen will always bring a little edge with him. He’s one of those players opponents love to hate, which is usually a compliment. At $18.1 million, his ability to stretch the floor while defending well is very important.
15. Ayo Dosunmu – $19,310,345
Ayo Dosunmu‘s rise has been one of the more enjoyable developments for basketball fans who appreciate players earning everything. With the Timberwolves, Dosunmu proved his worth in the playoffs, which is why he got a nice payday to become the starting swingman.
He doesn’t possess the overwhelming athleticism of the league’s biggest stars, but Dosunmu has become a more confident and capable two-way guard. He averaged 14.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.6 APG in the regular season, followed by an impressive 15.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 4.1 APG in the playoffs.
Nearly $20 million is serious money, but Minnesota is paying for what they believe a player will become, not just what he has already been. Based on what we saw last season, Dosunmu will have a major impact in the starting lineup.
14. Andrew Nembhard – $19,550,160
Andrew Nembhard is a fan favorite in Indiana. He can go off for high-scoring nights and is a lockdown perimeter defender at times. Last season, he averaged 16.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 7.7 APG, and 0.9 SPG on 44.2% FG and 36.1% 3-PT FG.
The combination of scoring and defense becomes even more valuable when the playoffs arrive, and every possession starts feeling like it has a mortgage attached to it. The Pacers know what they have with him moving forward.
Nembhard’s value goes beyond shooting guard statistics because he can essentially function as another point guard. When Tyrese Haliburton comes back, he will love having Nembhard taking some of the pressure off him.
13. Alex Caruso – $19,550,160
Alex Caruso has one of the most fascinating careers in the NBA because he became a fan favorite before many people fully understood just how good he actually was. Caruso is a genuinely elite defensive player, as reflected by his two All-Defensive Team selections.
He can blow up a possession before it develops, and his basketball IQ is ridiculous. His worth was proven during the 2025 OKC Thunder championship run, and Caruso is almost invaluable on the team. Last season, the two-way guard posted 6.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 0.3 BPG while holding a 105.5 defensive rating.
At nearly $20 million, you’re paying for a winning player. Caruso doesn’t need 20 shots. Put him on a good team, and he’ll figure out what needs to be done. Those are the players who suddenly become indispensable when a championship is on the line.
12. Norman Powell – $21,500,000
Norman Powell has spent years becoming one of the NBA’s most dependable bucket-getters. That is why he is making over $20M with the Chicago Bulls next season.
Need 20 points? Powell can give you 20. Need a scorer off the bench? He can do that. Need someone to step into a bigger role because a star is injured? Powell has repeatedly shown he can handle the responsibility.
At $21.5 million, Powell is being paid like a high-level complementary scorer, and that’s exactly what he is. After averaging 21.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.2 BPG on 47.0% FG and 38.0% 3-PT FG last season, we expect similar numbers next season.
11. Christian Braun – $21,551,726
Christian Braun‘s salary is a little bit high, and we don’t want to pocket-watch. But Denver is strapped with their cap space, and Braun is a large part of that, with no fault of his own.
Not long ago, he was the energetic young player coming off Denver’s bench and chasing every loose ball in the building. Now, he’s being paid more than $21 million per season because the Nuggets need him to be their starting shooting guard for the foreseeable future.
The pressure, of course, changes once the contract gets bigger. At $21.5 million, fans will expect more than hustle after a down season in 2025-26 (12.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 30.1% 3-PT FG). Braun needs to show he can be that third or fourth option the Nuggets need or otherwise risk being on the trading block.
10. Dyson Daniels – $25,000,000
Dyson Daniels is showing where the NBA is heading: big guards who can disrupt everything defensively. After winning Most Improved Player and finishing 2nd in Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25, he averaged 11.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 51.7% FG and only 18.8% 3-PT FG.
The offensive side will determine just how high his ceiling ultimately goes. Daniels needs to get a three-point shot going because if he does, Atlanta could have something special on its hands.
But even if his scoring never reaches elite levels, elite defense from the guard position is incredibly difficult to find, and that is why he is making $25M next season.
9. RJ Barrett – $29,616,071
RJ Barrett has heard every criticism imaginable since entering the NBA. He’s been called inefficient and has been questioned whenever his jumper goes cold. But Barrett has also continued to improve and remains one of the most physically imposing wings at his position.
When he’s attacking downhill, Barrett is difficult to deal with. He posted 19.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 49.1% FG and 33.9% 3-PT FG last season, so he is producing enough to stop most of the criticism around his contract.
At nearly $30 million, Barrett is being paid like a major piece of the Raptors franchise. That’s a lot of responsibility, but he’s still young enough (26) to add another level to his game.
8. Andrew Wiggins – $30,169,644
Andrew Wiggins is proof that he is best in a certain situation. Carrying the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick led to constant criticism about his game. Then Golden State asked him to just use his athleticism to make winning plays, and everything clicked.
Wiggins became an All-Star and a central figure in Golden State’s 2022 championship run, particularly with his defense against elite perimeter players. That’s the version of Wiggins worth $30 million. That’s the version the Miami Heat need next season alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Wiggins averaged 15.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.0 BPG last season, and if he can reproduce these numbers next season, Miami could have a very useful starting shooting guard in their bid for a championship.
7. Tyler Herro – $33,000,000
Tyler Herro has spent most of his career being asked to be a capable passer and microwave scorer. He’s done a pretty good job so far, and the Milwaukee Bucks need more from him as they embrace the rebuild.
Herro can score from all three levels and can look quiet for five minutes and then score 12 points before you have time to process what happened. He posted 20.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 48.0% FG and 37.8% 3-PT FG last season.
Making $33M means expectations are naturally higher, though. Herro has to prove he can be a consistent winning player or at least be a franchise cornerstone. This is his year to prove that.
6. Desmond Bane – $39,446,090
Coming out of college, there were questions about Desmond Bane‘s body and whether he had the athleticism to become a major NBA player. He became one of the best shooters in the NBA who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work on defense, either.
Bane averaged 20.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 4.1 APG last season on 48.4% FG and 39.1% 3-PT FG for the Magic, and held a 116.6 defensive rating. That’s why he’s earning nearly $40 million.
The number is enormous, but elite shooting is the hottest skill right now. The Magic paid a hefty price, both in a trade and on their salary cap sheet, to bring Bane in, so the player has to reward them with consistency next season.
5. Austin Reaves – $41,240,250
Austin Reaves making more than $41M would have sounded completely ridiculous a few years ago. And yet, here we are.
Reaves went from undrafted prospect to one of the most important offensive players on one of the league’s biggest franchises. He has worked his way into stardom, although he has yet to make an All-Star appearance.
Alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves needs to prove he can be the perfect co-star for the Lakers. That is no easy task because one down year and Lakers fans will be calling for change.
After averaging a career-high 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 49.0% FG and 36.0% 3-PT FG last season, this is Reaves’ time to shine.
4. OG Anunoby – $42,500,000
OG Anunoby is getting paid like one of the most valuable players in basketball because, frankly, that’s what he has become. Looking at what he did for the Knicks in their championship run last season, Anunoby is a legend in New York forever.
Elite two-way wings are the luxury items of the NBA. Everybody wants one, but there simply aren’t enough to go around. Anunoby proved he is the cream of the crop, posting 16.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 38.6% 3-PT FG.
At $42.5M, the number will naturally raise eyebrows, but after nailing the game-winning putback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, he earned his entire year’s paycheck in one play.
3. Zach LaVine – $48,967,380
Not many players can score as effortlessly as Zach LaVine when his game is rolling. When it comes to scoring, LaVine can be one of the most sought-after players in the NBA. He averaged 19.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 2.3 APG on 47.9% FG and 39.0% 3-PT FG.
The criticism is that his career hasn’t always translated into enough winning. That’s the burden of making nearly $49M. At this salary, nobody cares only about how pretty your game looks.
Still, LaVine is one of the most gifted scorers of his generation. But is he reaching his potential? We argue that he isn’t, but he has next season to prove himself before hitting free agency.
2. Donovan Mitchell – $50,105,628
The first name in the $50M club as a shooting guard, Donovan Mitchell is easily a top-two player at his position. He averaged 27.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 5.7 APG on 48.3% FG and 36.4% 3-PT FG for the Cavaliers last season.
Without question, Mitchell has earned his dollars. His scoring at all three levels and ability to lead the Cavs to the playoffs time and time again cannot be understated.
He hasn’t won a championship, but the Cavs believe he can get them there. Even if he doesn’t, Mitchell is a player who sells seats because he is capable of going off for 50 or even 60 points at any given moment.
1. Devin Booker – $57,078,728
Devin Booker is the highest-paid shooting guard in the NBA because, for one, he is a top-two shooting guard, and two, he is loyal to the franchise that drafted him. Booker has been with the Suns for 11 years and is working his way into being one of the franchise’s greatest players.
Even if he hasn’t won, he has led the team to the Finals and once scored 70 points in a game. He sells seats, is dominant offensively, and can carry a franchise season after season.
So when will the 29-year-old begin to grow tired of not being competitive enough in a loaded Western Conference? That’s the real question Booker needs to ask himself, but until then, he is making the money to prove his worth.
Eddie is a senior staff writer for Fadeaway World from Denver, Colorado. Since joining the team in 2017, Eddie has applied his academic background in economics and finance to enhance his sports journalism. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree from and later a Master's degree in Finance, he integrates statistical analysis into his articles. This unique approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of basketball through the lens of financial and economic concepts. Eddie's work has not only been a staple at Fadeaway World but has also been featured in prominent publications such as Sports Illustrated. His ability to break down complex data and present it in an accessible way creates an engaging and informative way to visualize both individual and team statistics. From finding the top 3 point shooters of every NBA franchise to ranking players by cost per point, Eddie is constantly finding new angles to use historical data that other NBA analysts may be overlooking.