Grading the 12 Highest Team Payrolls in NBA History
The cost of chasing an NBA championship is only rising.
Now, we're not extending many sympathies for organizations that continue to collect more and more revenue every season. The league recently inked television and media contracts worth $76 billion over an 11-year period.
That big money, nevertheless, means the salary cap is rising, and any team thinking about contending is angling to maximize that room.
Plus exceptions, as allowed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Those helpful CBA perks have pushed team salaries north of $200 million at the peak, along with a dozen more higher than $180 million. Whether that money has led to success, though—that's the question we're exploring.
Note: Salary data via Spotrac. All current teams are tentative grades.
12. 2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers
1 of 12
Payroll: $182,745,885
To begin the campaign, the Los Angeles Lakers relied on LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That duo helped win a championship back in 2020.
One stunning February night, however, the future of the franchise changed.
Los Angeles pulled off a shocking trade for Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, bringing in the All-NBA standout as the heir apparent to James' throne. And in the meantime, they'll be aiming at a title together on a playoff-bound team.
No matter what happens in this particular postseason, this money—considering what it represents down the line—is well-spent.
Grade: A-
11. 2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 12
Payroll: $183,191,333
The intent? Logical, admirable, all those nice words.
The execution? That's a different story for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have endured a frustrating season with setback after setback.
Entering the final stretch, at least the Bucks are positioned to avoid the play-in tournament. Any number of other franchises would love to have a disappointing year still result in a trip to the playoffs. That shouldn't be minimized.
But between a string of injuries to key players—including Damian Lillard (deep vein thrombosis)—a 25-game suspension for Bobby Portis and overall inconsistency, Milwaukee is far below expectations.
Giannis Antetokounmpo can do a lot. He can't do everything.
Unless the Bucks pull off a surprise and win a couple of playoff series, the memory of this season largely won't be a positive one.
Grade: C+
10. 2023-24 Boston Celtics
3 of 12
Payroll: $184,845,028
In such a subjective exercise, settling on a final grade is imperfect. Even a very specific formula would be built on personal factors.
This one, though, could not be simpler.
During the regular season, the Boston Celtics went 64-18 and stood atop the Eastern Conference by a staggering 14 games. They won every playoff series in five matchups or fewer, posting a 16-3 record on the path to a title.
Four players—Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown—earned at least $30 million. Derrick White checked in with $18.36 million, and Al Horford landed an even $10 million.
And every single penny was worth it.
Grade: A+
9. 2024-25 New York Knicks
4 of 12
Payroll: $187,754,435
On the heels of exiting the playoffs in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second year in a row, the New York Knicks swung for the fences.
They orchestrated an offseason trade to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, who brought a $49.2 million salary from the Minnesota Timberwolves. That addition vaulted the Knicks to the franchise's costliest cap number ever.
We're about to find out whether it was a good decision.
New York has basically met expectations, nearing 50 wins and set to secure home-court advantage in the first round. The well-paid group of Towns, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson—pending his return from injury—Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson is leading the Knicks into the postseason.
Anything other than a second-round exit can shift this grade. It might get better, but it could be a little worse.
Grade: B
8. 2023-24 Phoenix Suns
5 of 12
Payroll: $188,290,459
If you're a fan of the team, you might be skipping this section.
Chasing that championship high after a near-miss in 2021, the Suns took an all-in approach. They acquired Kevin Durant late in the 2022-23 season and traded for Bradley Beal during the ensuing summer.
That aggressive stance did not work out as hoped; early injuries prevented the Suns from unleashing Durant, Devin Booker and Beal until December. There were flashes of excellence—an offensively charged seven-game winning streak in January, most specifically—but too many letdowns in a 49-33 season.
Worst of all, Minnesota swept Phoenix in the opening round of the playoffs with a single game staying within a double-digit margin.
Grade: C-
7. 2022-23 Golden State Warriors
6 of 12
Payroll: $188,443,947
Fresh off winning a title, the Golden State Warriors essentially ran it back. They tweaked the complementary cast but relied on Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins.
In short: It was...fine.
The offense thrived—as you'd expect from a Curry-led roster—but Golden State often struggled on the other end. Even in a high-scoring NBA, giving up 117.1 points per game was pretty awful.
Ultimately, that weakness played a big part in the Dubs ending sixth in the Western Conference at 44-38 and bowing out of the playoffs in the second round.
Not close to a failure! Certainly not great.
Grade: B-
6. 2022-23 Los Angeles Clippers
7 of 12
Payroll: $191,189,228
Coincidentally, the Los Angeles Clippers finished with the same 48-34 record as the Warriors. But the Clips had a more frustrating year.
Los Angeles opened the season with the fourth-best championship odds. It boasted a roster led by perennial All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, two of the most respected wings in the league.
The campaign ended with Kawhi and George, both injured, watching the Clippers lose a first-round series to Phoenix in five games.
All of those eight-figure surrounding pieces from—Eric Gordon and Norman Powell to Nic Batum and Ivica Zubac—could not carry L.A. without its stars.
Grade: C
5. 2024-25 Boston Celtics
8 of 12
Payroll: $193,336,448
So far? Promising.
Although the scorching Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to steal the regular-season crown from the Celtics, the reigning champs are still a force.
Boston will be the No. 2 seed in the East, presumably after hitting 60 wins for the second straight year. The offense is exceptionally balanced with Tatum and Brown leading the charge, and the defense is among the NBA's best.
Anything less than a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, and this grade must be reassessed. Make—or win—the NBA Finals, and it can rise higher.
Grade: A-
4. 2023-24 Los Angeles Clippers
9 of 12
Payroll: $198,296,474
Early in the season, the Clippers worked out a deal to bring in James Harden and form a Big Three with Leonard and George.
And it sort of worked!
Harden adapted to a complementary role, Russell Westbrook shifted to coming off the bench and—most importantly—Kawhi and PG carried the team. Both of them appeared in at least 68 games and averaged 22-plus points.
So, naturally, the good vibes came crashing down at the finish.
Yet another knee injury sidelined Leonard, who missed the last 14 outings of the season as fourth-seeded, 51-win Los Angeles dropped the first-round series to the Mavericks in six games.
Grade: B-
3. 2024-25 Minnesota Timberwolves
10 of 12
Payroll: $199,278,607
Minnesota made a long-awaited breakthrough in 2023-24, winning 56 games and reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.
Staring down a future cap issue, however, the Wolves sent Towns to the Knicks and fully embraced Anthony Edwards as the centerpiece. They sacrificed a star forward to retain flexibility and depth—which at least is defensible, even if the results don't lead to immediate success.
That latter point is looking pertinent right now.
Minnesota will be part of the postseason, but will the Wolves avoid the play-in tournament? If they reach the first round, will they spring an upset?
Those answers will shape an official grade for a not-great, not-bad and very expensive Minnesota roster.
Grade: B-
2. 2023-24 Golden State Warriors
11 of 12
Payroll: $206,814,776
On one hand, Golden State winning 46 games in a very tough Western Conference should be commended. That context is necessary to mention.
The path to the conference's 10th-best record, however, was not a pretty one. Just after the midpoint of the campaign, the Warriors held a 21-25 mark. Two lengthy suspensions for Draymond Green added to the struggles as Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins weren't producing at the levels expected.
Fortunately for Golden State, that changed down the stretch.
Curry maintained his All-NBA form, and his supporting cast found the proverbial switch. The team ripped off a 25-11 finish to earn a spot in the play-in tournament and have a shot at making the postseason.
But in fitting fashion, the Dubs wrapped up a disappointing year with an absolute stinker, lost to the Sacramento Kings and missed the playoffs.
Grade: C-
1. 2024-25 Phoenix Suns
12 of 12
Payroll: $210,557,299
Oh, what a mess.
An ugly turnover rate and poor defense have haunted the Suns, who are fighting to muster a play-in tournament spot. Each member of the big-name trio— Durant, Booker and Beal—has fallen short of expectations.
In addition, trade rumors have lingered over the franchise all season. Would the Suns convince Beal to waive his no-trade clause, presumably to acquire Jimmy Butler? Would they bail on Durant? Would the front office make another desperate move around this flailing core?
Really, the season can hardly end soon enough for Phoenix.
The only thing—and I mean the only thing—between the Suns and an "F" grade is the possibility of sliding into the play-in tournament. Even then, short of winning a playoff series, that would hardly be a redemptive feat.
Grade: D-
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