Top 5 most expensive NBA contracts of all-time
Know all about the most expensive contracts in league history.
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Players with the most expensive NBA contracts (Image: FS)
The NBA is home to the best basketball players on the planet. Over the years, the stellar contracts and salaries of NBA stars have made the league one of the most expensive in the sporting world.
The NBA salary cap has broadened over time, and so have the player salaries. From Stephen Curry to Nikola Jokic, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to LeBron James, NBA stars have been offered some fantastic contracts throughout the years.
So who are the players with the most valuable NBA contracts, and how much do they earn? Here are the five most expensive NBA contracts in league history.
#5 Karl-Anthony Town: $224.2 Million
The Minnesota Timberwolves Center signed a 4-year / $224,224,000 contract with the franchise that comes into effect from the 2024-25 season and lasts up until the end of the 2027-28 season.
It is one of the most expensive contracts in NBA history, with an average salary of $56,056,000 per annum. Karl-Anthony Towns’ Designated Veteran Player Extension comes with $224,224,000 guaranteed at signing and has a player option for the 2027-28 season. He will become an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2028.
| CONTRACT | AVG. SALARY | GTD AT SIGN | SIGNED USING | FREE AGENT |
| 4 yr(s) / $224,224,000 | $56,056,000 | $224,224,000 | Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird | 2028 / UFA |
Salary Breakdown
- Annual Salary: $56,056,000
- Salary Per Month: $4,671,333
- Salary Per Week: $1,167,833
- Salary Per Game: $683,610
- Salary Per Quarter: $170,902
- Salary Per Minute: $14,241
#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo: $228.2 Million
The Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a 5-year / $228,200,420 contract with the franchise in December 2020. The deal lasts from the 2021-22 season to the end of the 2025-26 season.
With an average salary of $45,640,084 per annum, Antetokounmpo’s Designated Veteran Player Extension has $228,200,420 guaranteed at signing. The contract has a player option for the 2025-26 season, and he will become an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2026.
| CONTRACT | AVG. SALARY | GTD AT SIGN | SIGNED USING | FREE AGENT |
| 5 yr(s) / $228,200,420 | $45,640,084 | $228,200,420 | Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird | 2026 / UFA |
Salary Breakdown
- Annual Salary: $45,640,084
- Salary Per Month: $3,803,340
- Salary Per Week: $950,835
- Salary Per Game: $556,586
- Salary Per Quarter: $139,147
- Salary Per Minute: $11,596
#3 Bradley Beal: $251 Million
Former Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal signed his Maximum Extension on a 5-year / $251,019,650 deal. With $251,019,650 guaranteed at signing, the contract lasts from the 2022-23 season until 2026-27.
Now playing for the Phoenix Suns, Beal will be earning an average salary of $50,203,930 per annum, and there is a player option for him to unlock in his final season. Bradley Beal will become an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2027.
| CONTRACT | AVG. SALARY | GTD AT SIGN | SIGNED USING | FREE AGENT |
| 5 yr(s) / $251,019,650 | $50,203,930 | $251,019,650 | Maximum / Bird | 2027 / UFA |
Salary Breakdown
- Annual Salary: $50,203,930
- Salary Per Month: $4,183,661
- Salary Per Week: $1,045,915
- Salary Per Game: $612,243
- Salary Per Quarter: $153,060
- Salary Per Minute: $12,755
#2 Nikola Jokic: $272 Million
Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic had been offered one of the most expensive NBA Supermax extension contracts in July 2022. The 5-year /$272,020,000 deal will see him continue on new terms from the 2023-24 season until 2027-28.
On a tremendous annual average salary of $54,404,000 and a guaranteed $272,020,000, Jokic will continue to dominate the courts for the Denver Nuggets. The star center has a player option for the last season of his contract, and Jokic will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2028.
| CONTRACT | AVG. SALARY | GTD AT SIGN | SIGNED USING | FREE AGENT |
| 5 yr(s) / $272,020,000 | $54,404,000 | $272,020,000 | Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird | 2028 / UFA |
Salary Breakdown
- Annual Salary: $54,404,000
- Salary Per Month: $4,533,667
- Salary Per Week: $1,133,417
- Salary Per Game: $663,463
- Salary Per Quarter: $165,866
- Salary Per Minute: $13,822
#1 Jaylen Brown: $288 Million
Jaylen Brown’s five-year $288,260,000 extension with the Boston Celtics is by far the most expensive contract in NBA history. Brown signed the designated player veteran extension deal in July 2023, which would see the small forward continue with the franchise until the end of the 2028-29 season.
The massive contract comes into effect starting from the 2024-25 NBA season and will see Jaylen Brown pocket a lucrative sum every season. The deal came with $288,260,000 guaranteed at signing and an average annual salary of $57,652,000, with incentives that could make the deal go up to $303,734,893, per Spotrac.
Although many would argue that the Celtics small forward has underperformed since signing the lucrative contract, it remains to be seen if he can do justice to the massive paycheck in the coming season. Nevertheless, by the time his five-year contract ends, Brown will have added substantial fortune to his overall net worth.
| CONTRACT | AVG. SALARY | GTD AT SIGN | SIGNED USING | FREE AGENT |
| 5 yr(s) / $288,260,000 | $57,652,000 | $288,260,000 | Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird | 2029 / UFA |
Salary Breakdown
- Annual Salary: $57,652,000
- Salary Per Month: $4,802,083
- Salary Per Week: $1,200,521
- Salary Per Game: $703,073
- Salary Per Quarter: $175,768
- Salary Per Minute: $14,647
FAQs
Jaylen Brown has signed the richest contract in NBA history.
Jaylen Brown plays small forward for the Boston Celtics in the NBA.
Jaylen Brown is yet to win a Championship ring in his NBA career.
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Anjum Ash.
(521 Articles Published)