Apr 7, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
The NBA’s biggest stars are now approaching, and in Stephen Curry‘s case, exceeding $60 million in annual salary. Money has never been better for NBA players than in this era, for better or worse.
For the 2026-27 season, some of the top stars in the game, including Nikola Jokic, are all pushing toward the $60 million mark. And that’s before getting to the massive contracts belonging to the likes of Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, among others.
Here’s the full ranking, from No. 25 to the NBA’s highest-paid player.
25. Anthony Edwards – $48,924,624
Anthony Edwards has jumped from exciting young scorer to the face of Minnesota’s franchise, and his $48.9 million salary reflects the Timberwolves‘ belief that his best basketball is still ahead of him. Edwards is coming off a season averaging 28.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG while making his 4th All-Star Team.
The contract comes with a simple expectation: keep turning spectacular individual talent into legitimate championship contention. Minnesota has surrounded Edwards with help in the form of LaMelo Ball, but eventually the Timberwolves will need their star to be the best player on the floor when the postseason gets serious.
24. Tyrese Haliburton – $48,924,624
Tyrese Haliburton‘s $48.9 million salary is a massive investment in one of the NBA’s most creative offensive players. The last time Hali was healthy, he posted 18.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 9.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.7 BPG while making the All-NBA Third Team in his Finals push.
His 2026-27 season is especially important because Indiana is counting on his return from a major Achilles injury. The Pacers don’t need Haliburton simply to put up numbers; they need his organization and playmaking to restore the identity that made the Pacers a title contender.
23. Pascal Siakam – $48,924,624
Pascal Siakam has already proven he can be a championship-level second option, and Indiana is paying him nearly $49 million to remain just that. His two-way game is irreplaceable for the Pacers, and he is coming off his 4th All-Star appearance by posting 24.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.4 BPG.
The challenge is maintaining that level of impact while helping Indiana maximize its championship window. With Haliburton returning, Siakam should have more opportunities to operate against weaker defenses rather than being asked to create every possession himself like last year.
22. Zach LaVine – $48,967,380
Zach LaVine‘s $48.97 million salary puts him just ahead of Edwards, Haliburton, and Siakam despite entering a very different stage of his career. LaVine isn’t the same player he used to be, averaging only 19.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.3 BPG.
The biggest question is whether his production can translate into winning basketball at the level his salary suggests. LaVine has the offensive talent to punish defenses, but his contract was due to the hope the Chicago Bulls had in him at the time. LaVine might not be commanding that much money once free agency hits in 2027.
21. Jaren Jackson Jr. – $49,000,000
Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s $49 million salary is hefty, but it shows how impactful he can be on defense. Jackson averaged 19.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.4 BPG last season, and even if his rebounding is not that of a max player, his defense is.
Utah is asking Jackson to become more than a defensive specialist. He now has an opportunity to become the central star of a new Jazz era, and the contract makes that expectation impossible to ignore. If he can consistently combine his defensive skills with efficient scoring, $49 million might be just right.
20. Bam Adebayo – $49,488,300
Bam Adebayo‘s $49.5 million salary is built around his stature as the face of the Heat. We can count on one hand the number of centers who can switch onto guards, protect the paint, and create offense for a playoff team the way Adebayo (20.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 0.7 BPG) can.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo now alongside him in Miami, Adebayo’s role could become even more interesting. He won’t necessarily need to carry the scoring load, but his defense, passing, and teamwork will be critical to making the new Heat pairing work.
19. De’Aaron Fox – $49,488,300
De’Aaron Fox brings something every contender wants: speed. He had flashes of that last season, but not enough in the postseason to justify that amount of money. Fox was poor in the NBA Finals, averaging 12.8 PPG and 6.0 APG on 34.3% FG and 25.0% 3-PT FG.
Alongside Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, Fox has a completely different opportunity than he had earlier in his career. The Spurs need him to use his speed and playmaking to create advantages around Wembanyama much better than he did last season, meaning Fox is currently on one of the worst contracts in the NBA.
18. Trae Young – $49,488,300
Trae Young‘s $49.5 million salary comes with one of the loudest debates in the NBA. Nobody questions his ability to create offense. Young is an offensive machine who can score and create for his teammates at a very high level, even if he only played 15 games last season.
The question has always been whether his offense can outweigh his defensive limitations. Washington is betting that the answer changes when Young has Anthony Davis and top prospect AJ Dybantsa around him. Until Young proves different, he is one of the players with the most to prove next season.
17. Jamal Murray – $50,105,628
Jamal Murray‘s $50.1 million salary is mainly due to the fact that the Nuggets wanted him next to Nikola Jokic. Murray’s value isn’t simply his scoring; it’s his ability to punish defenses that devote too much attention to Jokic and elevate his game when the postseason arrives.
Denver needs more consistency from Murray, especially after a disappointing playoff campaign (23.7 PPG and 5.7 APG on 35.7% FG and 26.2% 3-PT FG) that ended with a first-round exit. At this salary, the Nuggets need the version of Murray who can take over playoff stretches at a much higher level as the second superstar needed to make another championship run.
16. Evan Mobley – $50,105,628
Evan Mobley is being paid like a franchise centerpiece, and his $50.1 million salary makes sense if his offensive development continues to catch up with his defensive impact. Mobley is coming off a season posting 18.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 1.7 BPG while helping the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
Mobley’s size, athleticism, and defensive instincts already make him special. If his scoring continues to develop, Cleveland could have one of the NBA’s best big men locked into its core for years. Even if Mobley isn’t a superstar, we think he is being paid fairly for his status on the team.
15. Cade Cunningham – $50,105,628
Cade Cunningham‘s $50.1 million salary is obviously Detroit’s commitment to making him the leader of the Pistons’ resurgence. His size at the guard position cannot be taught, and neither can his natural leadership qualities. Cade led the Pistons to the best record in the East last season and went to Game 7 of the second round.
Now the next challenge is winning. Cunningham has to turn impressive individual production into sustained postseason success, beyond the second round. Detroit’s young core has improved, but its ceiling will ultimately be determined by whether Cunningham can hit MVP status every year moving forward.
14. Donovan Mitchell – $50,105,628
Donovan Mitchell has already proven that he can carry an offense for an NBA team. In contention for being the best shooting guard in the NBA, he is being paid handsomely because of his scoring exploits, posting 27.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 5.7 APG while making his 7th All-Star selection and the All-NBA Second Team last season.
But Cleveland’s investment comes with postseason expectations. Mitchell is making more than $50 million because the Cavaliers believe he can help push them to the NBA title. In Cleveland, he has done his job so far even if he hasn’t won a championship yet, and deserves the contract that has come his way up until this point.
13. Kawhi Leonard – $50,300,000
Kawhi Leonard, when healthy, is one of the best players in the NBA and his $50.3 million salary reflects what he can still provide when healthy. Leonard was available last season, posting 27.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 3.6 APG while making his 7th All-Star appearance.
But that’s always the catch with Leonard: staying healthy. Leonard’s availability has become almost as important to his evaluation as his talent. At $50 million, he must stay on the floor to prove his worth because he could ultimately be getting paid to not play regular season games.
12. Luka Doncic – $51,033,600
Luka Doncic making $51 million and ranking only No. 12 is a perfect illustration of how quickly NBA salaries have escalated. Doncic is a top-five player in the world, capable of controlling scoring, playmaking, and tempo on every possession. He posted 33.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 8.3 APG while making the All-NBA First Team and winning a scoring title.
With the Lakers building around him after the departure of LeBron James, the pressure has only increased. Los Angeles isn’t paying Doncic to keep the franchise relevant. The expectation is to eventually bring another championship to Hollywood.
11. Paul George – $54,126,380
Paul George‘s $54.1 million salary becomes particularly intriguing in Boston, where he doesn’t need to carry an offense by himself. With Jayson Tatum back at full strength, George can focus on doing the things that have made him valuable throughout his career: making shots and playing defense.
The biggest variable remains health, after the veteran only played 37 games last season (posting 17.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 3.6 APG). George is now being asked to justify superstar money in a Celtics environment where the expectation is championship contention. A deep playoff run could completely change the conversation surrounding his contract.
10. Jimmy Butler – $56,832,773
Jimmy Butler‘s $56.8 million salary isn’t based entirely on what he does in the regular season. His reputation was built in the postseason, and that’s why the Warriors brought him on board two seasons ago. Unfortunately, Butler only appeared in 38 games last season, posting 20.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 4.9 APG.
Golden State needs that version of Butler once he returns from his injury next season. With Stephen Curry still leading the way and Draymond Green providing the defensive backbone, Butler is supposed to be the veteran star who gives the Warriors another gear. If not, Butler could be another player on this list on a very unfair contract.
9. Devin Booker – $57,078,728
Devin Booker‘s $57.1 million salary places him firmly among the NBA’s elite, and there is no issue with that. The Phoenix guard has changed from being a pure scorer into a more complete offensive initiator. Booker is a system on his own, making the 5th All-Star Team of his career last season while averaging 26.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 6.0 APG.
Now the Suns need the next evolution: leadership that translates into postseason success. Booker has already shown he can score 40-plus points on any given night, but can he uplift the players around him? To be fair, even if he doesn’t, the Suns don’t have a better option than Booker at this point.
8. Karl-Anthony Towns – $57,078,728
Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most gifted offensive big men in basketball. His three-point shooting creates spacing that most centers simply cannot provide, and his all-around play caught up with his offense last season. Towns posted 20.1 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 50.1% FG and 36.8% 3-PT FG in 2025-26.
At $57.1 million, though, the Knicks know what they have, especially since Jalen Brunson is absent from this list due to his monetary sacrifices. Towns was arguably the second-best player for the Knicks during their championship run, and they have to proceed carefully with how they re-sign him. They cannot afford to lose Towns, but can they commit another deal worth at least $55M per year? Let’s see.
7. Joel Embiid – $57,736,350
Joel Embiid is one of the rare players whose salary makes perfect sense and enormous sense at the same time. At his best, he’s an MVP talent. He averaged 26.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 1.2 BPG on 48.9% FG and 33.3% 3-PT FG. But he did it in only 38 games.
So the problem has never been whether Embiid is talented enough to justify $57.7 million. It’s whether his body can allow him to deliver that value consistently. With LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey now surrounding him, Philadelphia has assembled a roster capable of winning big. Embiid has to stay healthy enough to put the pieces together for a title win and avoid being labeled an overpaid player with a big name.
6. Jaylen Brown – $57,736,350
Jaylen Brown is now making nearly $58 million while stepping into a completely new role in Philadelphia. After years of being Jayson Tatum’s co-star in Boston, Brown will now share the stage with LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey.
That could make him even more dangerous. Brown won’t have to carry the offense every night (posting 28.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 5.1 APG last season), allowing him to attack favorable matchups and concentrate on his two-way strengths. Philadelphia will still expect All-NBA-level production, particularly when the postseason arrives.
5. Jayson Tatum – $58,456,566
Jayson Tatum‘s $58.5 million salary places him among the league’s highest-paid players, but Boston has already seen what that investment can produce. Tatum is a champion, All-NBA talent, and the centerpiece of the Celtics culture. He only played 16 games last season after rehabbing his Achilles, posting 21.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 5.3 APG on 41.1% FG, 32.9% 3-PT FG, and 82.3% FT.
The next chapter is fascinating after Boston traded Jaylen Brown. Tatum returns as the unquestioned face of the franchise, while Paul George takes over much of Brown’s old role. If Tatum comes back fully healthy and Boston remains in the championship picture, his contract will look like a standard bargain for the best player on one of the biggest markets.
4. Anthony Davis – $58,456,566
Anthony Davis will make $58.5 million in 2026-27, putting him alongside some of the game’s most expensive superstars. Clearly, he hasn’t justified that price tag with his availability (20 appearances last season), although his impact (20.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.7 BPG) is clearly deserving.
Washington is taking a major swing by building around Davis alongside Trae Young and AJ Dybantsa. That makes his availability and performance crucial. The Wizards aren’t paying nearly $60 million for a big name; they need Davis to anchor a team before receiving a new contract.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo – $58,456,566
Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s $58.5 million salary comes with perhaps the clearest expectation on this list: win. Now in Miami, he’ll be joining Bam Adebayo and a Heat organization that has never been shy about championship ambitions. Giannis is coming off an All-Star season posting 27.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.7 BPG in 36 games.
Miami isn’t paying Giannis to make the playoffs. It is paying him to change the franchise’s goals to becoming NBA champions in 2027. If he does exactly that, $58.5 million is simply the going rate for a generational talent.
2. Nikola Jokic – $59,033,114
Nikola Jokic will make just under $59.1 million in 2026-27, and somehow that still isn’t enough to make him the highest-paid player in the NBA. The three-time MVP is everything for the Nuggets, as shown by the fact he averaged 27.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, and 10.7 APG as the MVP runner-up.
The Nuggets’ challenge is making sure they don’t waste another season of Jokic’s prime. His contract is enormous because his value is enormous. Denver has the best player on the planet, and now it needs to build a roster capable of proving it instead of settling for a first-round exit.
1. Stephen Curry – $62,587,158
Stephen Curry is officially the NBA’s highest-paid player for the 2026-27 season at an eye-popping $62,587,158. And honestly, who else would it be? For one, Curry is the most popular player in the league and arguably brings in the most revenue.
Defenses still panic when he crosses half-court, and his presence continues to give Golden State an offensive identity that is a sight to behold. But the timing makes this contract fascinating.
Curry is still the centerpiece, while the Warriors have struggled to build a roster that looks like a legitimate championship team around him. At $62.6 million, Golden State has one of the greatest point guards ever, but the organization has to decide whether it is still building to win with Curry or simply cashing in on its biggest cash cow.
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.