On Thursday, we listed the top 50 highest-paid NBA players for the 2021/22 season. Although that list presented a clear picture of the highest earners for the current season, not every NBA team was represented. Four of the league’s 30 franchises – the Spurs, Pistons, Grizzlies, and Thunder – didn’t have a single player in the top 50.
Our list of highest-paid players for 2021/22 also only provided a snapshot for this year. For example, Gary Harris, who cracked the top 50, will be well compensated for the coming season but is on an expiring contract and will almost certainly fall off that list next year.
Today, we’re shifting our focus to the highest-paid players by team. This will allow us to check in on the clubs that weren’t represented on our initial list, as well as identifying some of the league’s most lucrative multiyear commitments — we’ve included each club’s highest-paid player for the 2021/22 season and its highest-paid player in total.
Let’s dive in…
Atlanta Hawks
2021/22: John Collins ($23,000,000)- Total: Trae Young (six years, $180,826,471)
- Note: The amount owed to Young would increase to $215,386,471 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2022. The value of his maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $119MM salary cap for 2022/23. Young’s final year is a player option.
- Note: The amount owed to Young would increase to $215,386,471 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2022. The value of his maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $119MM salary cap for 2022/23. Young’s final year is a player option.
Boston Celtics
- 2021/22: Jayson Tatum ($28,103,500)
- Total: Jayson Tatum (five years, $163,000,300)
Brooklyn Nets
- 2021/22: James Harden ($44,310,840)
- Total: Kevin Durant (five years, $239,675,808)
- Note: Durant’s five-year earnings include $233,423,808 in base salaries and $6,252,000 in likely incentives.
Charlotte Hornets
- 2021/22: Gordon Hayward ($29,925,000)
- Total: Terry Rozier (five years, $114,163,957)
- Note: A small amount ($1,718,905) of Rozier’s fifth-year salary is non-guaranteed.
- Note: A small amount ($1,718,905) of Rozier’s fifth-year salary is non-guaranteed.
Chicago Bulls
- 2021/22: DeMar DeRozan ($26,000,000)
- Total: DeMar DeRozan (three years, $81,900,000)
Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2021/22: Kevin Love ($31,258,256)
- Total: Jarrett Allen (five years, $100,000,000)
Dallas Mavericks
- 2021/22: Kristaps Porzingis ($31,650,600)
- Total: Luka Doncic (six years, $217,234,391)
- Note: Doncic’s final year is a player option.
Denver Nuggets
- 2021/22: Nikola Jokic ($31,579,390)
- Note: Jokic’s cap hit includes a $30,510,423 base salary and $1,068,967 in likely incentives.
- Total: Michael Porter Jr. (six years, $177,758,735)
- Note: The amount owed to Porter could get as high as $212,318,735 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2022. The value of his maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $119MM salary cap for 2022/23. Porter’s final year is only partially guaranteed for $12MM.
- Note: The amount owed to Porter could get as high as $212,318,735 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2022. The value of his maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $119MM salary cap for 2022/23. Porter’s final year is only partially guaranteed for $12MM.
Detroit Pistons
- 2021/22: Jerami Grant ($20,002,500)
- Total: Cade Cunningham (four years, $45,599,089)
- Note: Cunningham’s third and fourth years are team options. Grant has the most total guaranteed money (two years, $40,957,500) of any Piston.
- Note: Cunningham’s third and fourth years are team options. Grant has the most total guaranteed money (two years, $40,957,500) of any Piston.
Golden State Warriors
- 2021/22: Stephen Curry ($45,780,966)
- Total: Stephen Curry (five years, $261,134,628)
Houston Rockets
- 2021/22: John Wall ($44,310,840)
- Total: John Wall (two years, $91,677,600)
- Note: Wall’s final year is a player option.
- Note: Wall’s final year is a player option.
Indiana Pacers
- 2021/22: Malcolm Brogdon ($21,700,000)
- Total: Malcolm Brogdon (four years, $89,300,000)
Los Angeles Clippers
- 2021/22: Paul George / Kawhi Leonard ($39,344,900)
- Total: Paul George / Kawhi Leonard (four years, $176,265,152)
- Note: George and Leonard each have final-year player options.
Los Angeles Lakers
- 2021/22: Russell Westbrook ($44,211,146)
- Total: Anthony Davis (four years, $157,161,600)
- Note: Davis’ final year has an early termination option.
Memphis Grizzlies
- 2021/22: Steven Adams ($17,073,171)
- Total: Jaren Jackson Jr. (five years, $113,900,560)
- Note: Jackson’s extension includes some protection for the team in the event he re-injures his left knee.
Miami Heat
- 2021/22: Jimmy Butler ($36,016,200)
- Total: Jimmy Butler (five years, $215,419,500)
- Note: The value of Butler’s maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $125MM salary cap for 2023/24. Butler’s final year is a player option.
Milwaukee Bucks
- 2021/22: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($39,344,900)
- Total: Giannis Antetokounmpo (five years, $228,200,420)
- Note: Antetokounmpo’s final year is a player option.
- Note: Antetokounmpo’s final year is a player option.
Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2021/22: Karl-Anthony Towns ($31,650,600)
- Total: Karl-Anthony Towns (three years, $101,500,200)
New Orleans Pelicans
- 2021/22: Brandon Ingram ($29,467,800)
- Total: Brandon Ingram (four years, $130,968,000)
New York Knicks
- 2021/22: Julius Randle ($21,780,000)
- Note: Randle’s cap hit includes a $19,800,000 base salary and $1,980,000 in likely incentives. Randle also has another $990,000 in unlikely incentives.
- Total: Julius Randle (five years, $138,869,280)
- Note: Randle’s five-year earnings include $126,244,800 in base salaries, $12,624,480 in likely incentives, and $6,312,240 in likely incentives. Randle’s final year is a player option.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2021/22: Kemba Walker ($10,733,900)
- Note: Even after agreeing to a buyout and having his remaining salary stretched across five seasons, Walker is earning more from the Thunder this season than any player on the team’s active roster. Derrick Favors ($9,720,900) is next.
- Total: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (six years, $177,995,532)
- Note: The amount owed to Gilgeous-Alexander would increase to $212,555,532 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2022. The value of his maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $119MM salary cap for 2022/23.
- Note: The amount owed to Gilgeous-Alexander would increase to $212,555,532 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2022. The value of his maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $119MM salary cap for 2022/23.
Orlando Magic
- 2021/22: Gary Harris ($20,482,143)
- Note: Harris has another $2,600,000 in unlikely incentives.
- Total: Jonathan Isaac (four years, $69,600,000)
- Note: Isaac has another $10,400,000 in unlikely incentives.
Philadelphia 76ers
- 2021/22: Tobias Harris ($35,995,950)
- Total: Joel Embiid (six years, $261,196,160)
- Note: The value of Embiid’s maximum-salary extension is based on a projected $125MM salary cap for 2023/24. Embiid’s final year is a player option.
Phoenix Suns
- 2021/22: Devin Booker ($31,650,600)
- Total: Chris Paul (four years, $120,000,000)
- Note: Paul’s third year is partially guaranteed and his fourth year is non-guaranteed, so he has just $75MM in guaranteed money. Booker has the most total guaranteed money (three years, $101,500,200) of any Sun.
Portland Trail Blazers
2021/22: Damian Lillard ($39,344,900)- Total: Damian Lillard (four years, $176,265,152)
- Note: Lillard’s final year is a player option.
- Note: Lillard’s final year is a player option.
Sacramento Kings
- 2021/22: De’Aaron Fox ($28,103,500)
- Total: De’Aaron Fox (five years, $163,000,300)
San Antonio Spurs
- 2021/22: Dejounte Murray ($15,428,880)
- Note: Murray has another $1,500,000 in unlikely incentives.
- Total: Derrick White (four years, $68,000,000)
- Note: White has another $5,000,000 in unlikely incentives.
Toronto Raptors
- 2021/22: Pascal Siakam ($33,003,936)
- Total: Pascal Siakam (three years, $106,346,016)
Utah Jazz
- 2021/22: Rudy Gobert ($35,344,828)
- Total: Rudy Gobert (five years, $205,000,000)
- Note: Gobert’s final year is a player option.
Washington Wizards
- 2021/22: Bradley Beal ($33,724,200)
- Total: Bradley Beal (two years, $70,146,336)
- Note: Beal’s final year is a player option.
Information from Basketball Insiders and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.
The weirdest one to me is Westbrook being the highest paid Laker this season…
Believe it or not, he is one of the six players in the NBA on a supermax deal.
K-Love isn’t starting but is having the best year of his contract so far. Seems more of an inside player, despite not being one of the seven-footers! Reduced turnovers, fouls, 3pt%; more off.reb.; best combined metrics since the allstar & finals era. Looks great in highlights, meaning like before, in the lane.
John Wall & Gary Harris are also not starting; Harris keeps sliding; team plays two PGs.
For Memphis, the highest-paid and presidential duo of Adams & Jackson are both starting, with three guards.
Who and why did someone give Gary Harris 20 mil