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The highest-paid player on every NBA team

The highest-paid player on every NBA team
Sports1 min read
Stephen Curry.Tony Gutierrez/AP Images
  • NBA player salaries have skyrocketed in recent years.
  • We used Spotrac to determine the highest-paid player on every team.
  • Multiple players make over $30 million a year, and several make over $40 million per year.

Using Spotrac, we took a look at the highest-paid player on every NBA team.

Salaries have exploded in recent years, and it is commonplace for good players to make over $25 million a year. There are 24 teams whose highest-paid player makes over $25 million this season, and some teams have multiple players making such figures.

Check out each NBA team's highest-paid player below.

Atlanta Hawks: Danilo Gallinari - $19 million

Atlanta Hawks: Danilo Gallinari - $19 million
Danilo Gallinari.      Jason DeCrow/AP Images

Position: Forward

Age: 32

Contract: 3 years, $61 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Gallinari is shooting 40% from three for a third straight season but is averaging 23 minutes per game, his lowest since his rookie year.

Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker - $34.3 million

Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker - $34.3 million
Kemba Walker.      Michael Dwyer/AP Images

Position: Point guard

Age: 30

Contract: 4 years, $140.7 million

All-Stars: 4

One thing to know: Walker signed with the Celtics in 2019 after the Hornets declined to offer him a five-year "supermax" contract worth over $200 million.

Brooklyn Nets: James Harden - $41.2 million

Brooklyn Nets: James Harden - $41.2 million
James Harden.      Frank Franklin II/AP Images

Position: Guard

Age: 31

Contract: 4 years, $171 million

All-Stars: 9

One thing to know: The Nets have over $114 million committed this season to the trio of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.

Charlotte Hornets: Gordon Hayward - $28.5 million

Charlotte Hornets: Gordon Hayward - $28.5 million
Gordon Hayward.      Nick Wass/AP Images

Position: Guard/Forward

Age: 31

Contract: 4 years, $120 million

All-Stars: 1

One thing to know: Hayward has produced at an All-Star level when healthy, but injuries have plagued him, as he's played in just 169 games over the last four seasons.

Chicago Bulls: Nikola Vucevic - $26 million

Chicago Bulls: Nikola Vucevic - $26 million
Nikola Vucevic.      Marta Lavandier/AP Images

Position: Center

Age: 30

Contract: 4 years, $100 million

All-Stars: 3

One thing to know: Vucevic's deal declines in annual value each year, but he looks likely to cash in on a near-max deal when he's a free agent in 2023.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love - $31.2 million

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love - $31.2 million
Kevin Love.      Carlos Osorio/AP Images

Position: Forward/Center

Age: 32

Contract: 4 years, $120 million

All-Stars: 5

One thing to know: Love has been on the trade block for years but has been difficult to deal because of his big contract and the Cavs' high asking price.

Dallas Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis - $29.4 million

Dallas Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis - $29.4 million
Kristaps Porzingis.      LM Otero/AP

Position: Forward/Center

Age: 25

Contract: 5 years, $158 million

All-Stars: 1

One thing to know: Porzingis has played in just 96 games over two and a half seasons with the Mavs but is having his best season shooting the ball in 2020-21.

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic - $29.5 million

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic - $29.5 million
Nikola Jokic.      David Zalubowski/AP Images

Position: Center

Age: 26

Contract: 5 years, $147 million

All-Stars: 3

One thing to know: Jokic, the front-runner for MVP this season, might be a bit of a steal for the Nuggets: he's the 24th highest-paid player this year and has two more years left on his contract.

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant - $19 million

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant - $19 million
Jerami Grant.      Tony Gutierrez/AP Images

Position: Forward

Age: 27

Contract: 3 years, $60 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Many people scoffed when the Pistons gave Grant a $60 million contract, but he has responded by averaging a career-high 22 points per game.

Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry - $43 million

Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry - $43 million
Stephen Curry.      Jeff Chiu/AP Images

Position: Guard

Age: 33

Contract: 5 years, $201 million

All-Stars: 7

One thing to know: After becoming an MVP on a $44 million contract, Curry could have a chance to sign back-to-back $200 million deals.

Houston Rockets: John Wall - $41.2 million

Houston Rockets: John Wall - $41.2 million
John Wall.      Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo/AP Images

Position: Guard

Age: 30

Contract: 4 years, $171 million

All-Stars: 5

One thing to know: Injuries continue to be a problem for Wall — who is done for the season after a decent year in Houston — as he's now played just 113 games over the last four seasons.

Indiana Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - $20.7 million

Indiana Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - $20.7 million
Malcolm Brogdon.      David Zalubowski/AP Images

Position: Guard

Age: 28

Contract: 4 years, $85 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Brogdon continues to make the Pacers look smart for giving him an $85 million contract, averaging a career-high 21 points per game to go with 5.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

LA Clippers: Paul George - $35.4 million

LA Clippers: Paul George - $35.4 million
Brandon Wade/AP Images

Position: Forward

Age: 30

Contract: 4 years, $136 million

All-Stars: 7

One thing to know: George is currently on the deal he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018, but he signed a 4-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers that kicks in next season.

Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James - $39.2 million

Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James - $39.2 million
LeBron James.      Nam Y. Huh/AP Images

Position: Guard/Forward

Age: 36

Contract: 4 years, $153 million

All-Stars: 17

One thing to know: James signed a 2-year, $85 million extension with the Lakers this past offseason, perhaps in part because his plans to sign a mega-five-year deal were foiled again.

Memphis Grizzlies: Jonas Valanciunas - $15 million

Memphis Grizzlies: Jonas Valanciunas - $15 million
Jonas Valanciunas.      Nick Wass/AP Images

Position: Center

Age: 28

Contract: 3 years, $45 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Valanciunas is having a career year for the Grizzlies, averaging a career-high 17 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler - $34.3 million

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler - $34.3 million
Jimmy Butler.      Nick Wass/AP Images

Position: Guard/Forward

Age: 31

Contract: 4 years, $140.7 million

All-Stars: 5

One thing to know: Butler is quietly shooting a career-high on two-point shots, his second-best free-throw percentage, and a career-high in assists this season.

Milwaukee Bucks: Khris Middleton - $33 million

Milwaukee Bucks: Khris Middleton - $33 million
Khris Middleton.      Tony Dejak/AP Images

Position: Guard/Forward

Age: 29

Contract: 5 years, $177 million

All-Stars: 2

One thing to know: Middleton won't be the Bucks' highest-paid player for long, as Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a 5-year, $228 million extension this season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns - $29.4 million

Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns - $29.4 million
Karl-Anthony Towns.      Nick Wass/AP Images

Position: Center

Age: 25

Contract: 5 years, $158 million

All-Stars: 2

One thing to know: Towns has struggled to stay on the floor the last two seasons, playing a total of 76 games.

New Orleans Pelicans: Steven Adams - $29.5 million

New Orleans Pelicans: Steven Adams - $29.5 million
Steven Adams.      Nick Wass/AP Images

Position: Center

Age: 27

Contract: 4 years, $100 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Adams is in the final year of his contract and may have a hard time finding another $100 million deal in free agency.

New York Knicks: Julius Randle - $18.9 million

New York Knicks: Julius Randle - $18.9 million
Julius Randle.      Elsa/Pool Photo via AP Images

Position: Forward

Age: 26

Contract: 3 years, $62 million

All-Stars: 1

One thing to know: Randle is having a career year, is the favorite for Most Improved Player, and could sign a 4-year, $106 million extension this offseason unless he wants to hit free agency to sign a bigger deal.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Al Horford - $27.5 million

Oklahoma City Thunder: Al Horford - $27.5 million
Ashley Landis/AP Images

Position: Center

Age: 34

Contract: 4 years, $109 million

All-Stars: 5

One thing to know: There is a $23 million gap between Horford and the Thunder's second-highest-paid player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who makes $4 million this season.

Orlando Magic: Otto Porter Jr. - $28.4 million

Orlando Magic: Otto Porter Jr. - $28.4 million
Otto Porter Jr.      Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Position: Forward

Age: 27

Contract: 4 years, $106.5 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Porter was traded to the Magic at the deadline and has appeared in just three games. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

Philadelphia 76ers: Tobias Harris - $34.3 million

Philadelphia 76ers: Tobias Harris - $34.3 million
Jeff Chiu/AP Images

Position: Forward

Age: 28

Contract: 5 years, $180 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: Harris is quietly having one of his best seasons scoring the ball, averaging a career-high 20 points on a career-best 56.4% eFG.

Phoenix Suns: Chris Paul - $41.3 million

Phoenix Suns: Chris Paul - $41.3 million
Chris Paul.      Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Position: Point guard

Age: 35

Contract: 4 years, $159 million

All-Stars: 11

One thing to know: Paul has catapulted the Suns to a new tier and looks like he plenty left in the tank for the twilight years of his career.

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard - $31.6 million

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard - $31.6 million
Damian Lillard.      Nick Wass/AP Images

Position: Point guard

Age: 30

Contract: 5 years, $139 million

All-Stars: 6

One thing to know: Lillard is in the final year of his contract, and his 4-year, $176 million extension kicks in next season.

Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield - $24.7 million

Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield - $24.7 million
Buddy Hield.      Jeff Chiu/AP Images

Position: Guard

Age: 28

Contract: 4 years, $94 million

All-Stars: 0

One thing to know: After averaging 20 points per game on 45.8% shooting in 2018-19, Hield's scoring average and FG% have dropped in consecutive seasons.

San Antonio Spurs: DeMar DeRozan - $27.7 million

San Antonio Spurs: DeMar DeRozan - $27.7 million
DeMar DeRozan.      Eric Gay/AP Images

Position: Guard/Forward

Age: 31

Contract: 5 years, $139 million

All-Stars: 4

One thing to know: DeRozan is in the final year of his deal and is set to be one of the biggest free agents in the NBA next summer.

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam - $30.5 million

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam - $30.5 million
Pascal Siakam.      Carlos Osorio/AP Images

Position: Forward

Age: 27

Contract: 4 years, $136 million

All-Stars: 1

One thing to know: Siakam is the focal point of the Raptors' re-tool, but his play has been up and down since last March, and he is posting a career-worst eFG% this season.

Utah Jazz: Mike Conley - $34.5 million

Utah Jazz: Mike Conley - $34.5 million
Rick Bowmer/AP Images

Position: Guard

Age: 33

Contract: 5 years, $152 million

All-Stars: 1

One thing to know: Long a member of the "Best players to never make an All-Star team" club, Conley finally got in this year when Devin Booker was scratched due to injury.

Washington Wizards: Russell Westbrook - $41.3 million

Washington Wizards: Russell Westbrook - $41.3 million
AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Position: Guard

Age: 32

Contract: 5 years, $206 million

All-Stars: 9

One thing to know: After a slow start to the season, Westbrook is once again averaging a triple-double, his fourth time in five years.

Now, check out our rankings of the best big men in the NBA...

Now, check out our rankings of the best big men in the NBA...
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

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