With the salary cap rising to a record $136.021 million for the 2023-24 NBA season, teams are spending more than ever to attract top talent to their cities.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, who signed a four-year, $215 million extension in 2021, tops the list of the season’s highest salary for a third year in a row.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, four-time MVP LeBron James, and reigning MVP Joel Embiid are all tied in the second slot with all of their new supermax extensions kicking in this season. Embiid will add to his coffers off the court through his new endorsement deal with Skechers.
Bradley Beal rounds out the top five via the five-year, $251 million max deal he signed with the Washington Wizards — though the balance will be paid out by the Phoenix Suns, who traded for the three-time All-Star in June.
Phoenix has not been afraid to shell out the big bucks under new owner Mat Ishbia: The Suns feature three players in the top 25 highest paid — the most of any team — and have been on a veritable spending spree that includes a new business headquarters, as well as a practice facility and new well-paid head coach for the WNBA’s Mercury.
Beal isn’t the only player making big money in a new locale. Damian Lillard ties new Milwaukee Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo for seventh on the list. At the same time, Fred VanVleet debuted in the top 25 after signing a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets.
One notable omission from the list is the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, who inked a five-year, $304 million supermax extension in July — the largest contract in NBA history. However, the deal does not kick in until the 2024-25 season, meaning he’ll have a prominent place next year.
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid players in the NBA by total compensation for the 2023-24 season. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
| Rank | Player | Team | Compensation |
| 1 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $51.9 million |
| 2 (tie) | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | $47.6 million |
| LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | $47.6 million | |
| Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $47.6 million | |
| 5 | Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns | $46.7 million |
| 6 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | $46.4 million |
| 7 (tie) | Paul George | Los Angeles Clippers | $45.6 million |
| Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | $45.6 million | |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | $45.6 million | |
| Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | $45.6 million | |
| 11 | Jimmy Butler | Miami Heat | $45.2 million |
| 12 | Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors | $43.2 million |
| 13 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | $41 million |
| 14 | Fred VanVleet | Houston Rockets | $40.8 million |
| 15 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | $40.6 million |
| 16 (tie) | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | $40.1 million |
| Zach LaVine | Chicago Bulls | $40.1 million | |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | $40.1 million | |
| 19 | Tobias Harris | Philadelphia 76ers | $39.3 million |
| 20 (tie) | Ben Simmons | Brooklyn Nets | $37.9 million |
| Pascal Siakam | Toronto Raptors | $37.9 million | |
| 22 | Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks | $37 million |
| 23 (tie) | Kristaps Porzingis | Boston Celtics | $36 million |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | $36 million | |
| Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | $36 million |
