The NBA's 10 Highest-Paid Players This Season

Some of the NBA's 10 highest-paid players for the 2026-27 season are overpaid. Some are underpaid.

But the one thing they have in common, aside from at one point in the past or present being among the NBA's elite, is that they've all been in the league for at least nine seasons.

That's to be expected. Once a player has at least 10 years of NBA experience, he's eligible for a maximum contract starting at 35 percent of the salary cap.

Young stars like Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards will eventually be on this list one day. But for now, the 25-and-under stars will have to wait.

10. Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

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2026-27 salary: $56.8 million

When Butler signed a two-year, $111 million extension with the Golden State Warriors in February 2025, both sides had no idea he would miss a huge chunk of it with a torn ACL. 

How Butler looks when he returns will be fascinating. There isn't much history of elite athletes trying to return from a torn ACL that they suffered at 36 years old. 

If Butler doesn't return to his pre-injury form, the Warriors might not have enough offensive talent to win a playoff series. Butler averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game before suffering his injury in January.

T-8. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

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2026-27 salary: $57.1 million

Booker will be rising up this list in the coming years. He signed a two-year max extension that will pay him an estimated $64.7 million in 2028-29 and $67.9 million in 2029-30 (player option). 

The 29-year-old has an aesthetically pleasing game due to his ability to make closely defended mid-range shots, but he's not efficient enough to warrant the kind of money he'll be making with that extension. 

With that said, he offers plenty of value as a volume scorer and underrated passer. However, the Suns don't have the draft assets to surround him with the talent needed for a deep playoff run.

T8. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

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2026-27 salary: $57.1 million

Karl-Anthony Towns' contract status is under the microscope right now, as he and the Knicks are reportedly far apart on what his next extension should look like. 

Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that the Knicks offered the 30-year-old big man a four-year, $200 million extension. But he's eligible for a four-year deal worth as much as $276 million.

Towns would likely get a max or near-max deal if he declines his $61.0 million player option for the 2027-28 season and becomes an unrestricted free agent next offseason. But the grass might not be greener if Towns takes a bigger deal elsewhere in free agency. 

Towns and the Knicks will likely wind up compromising for something higher than $200 million, but not close to his max.

7. Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers

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2026-27 salary: $57.7 million

The Celtics' decision to trade Jaylen Brown with three years left on his five-year, $285 million contract was ruthless. But was it wise?

Brown is a talented scorer, but his on/off ratings have never been impressive. The C's seemed to be conceding that his contract would age poorly, as he'll be making $65.6 million in 2028-29, which will be his age-32 campaign. 

Brown can stick it to the C's by leading the 76ers on a title run this year.

6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

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2026-27 salary: $58.0 million

Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid often appear in "worst contracts in the NBA" articles. Now, they are teammates. That is one of many reasons why the Philadelphia 76ers are the most fascinating team in the NBA this season. 

Embiid is on those lists due to his injury issues. The 32-year-old has played in just 96 games over the last three seasons. 

If he's healthy for the playoffs, the Sixers will have a chance to win it all. If he's injured again, he'll be back on "worst contract" lists since he's owed $62.6 million in 2027-28 and $67.3 million in 2028-29 (player option).

T-3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

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2026-27 salary: $58.5 million

Jayson Tatum was not quite back to his previous form last season upon returning from his torn Achilles tendon. But all things considered, he had an impressive 16-game regular-season stint after such a serious injury. 

This year, anything short of MVP-level production and impact will be disappointing. 

Tatum is owed $62.8 million in 2027-28, $67.1 million in 2028-29 and $71.4 million in 2029-30 (player option). The 28-year-old is likely to be worth every penny of that contract.

T-3. Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards

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2026-27 salary: $58.5 million

It's been a wild few years for Anthony Davis. 

In August 2023, Davis signed a three-year, $175.4 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers that would keep him under contract through 2027-28. 

A year-and-a-half later, the Lakers traded him to the Dallas Mavericks before that extension even began. One year after that, the Mavericks sent him to the Washington Wizards. 

Davis wants one more major payday, but the Wizards probably won't give it to him as they prioritize cap space for their young core. He's expected to decline his 2027-28 player option to enter free agency and get that last bag.

Considering the 33-year-old's injury history, there might not be a long list of teams looking to pay him. But all it takes is one.

T-3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat

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2026-27 salary: $58.5 million

Antetokounmpo is on a guaranteed contract this season and has a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. In theory, he could decline it and become a free agent next year. 

It would be shocking if the Miami Heat's new star departs after only one season. But until he signs a long-term deal, Heat fans have every right to be nervous. 

Antetokounmpo can't sign a four-year extension until Jan. 6, so nothing can be done on that front for now. The best pitch the Heat could give the 31-year-old is getting off to a dominant start.

2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

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2026-27 salary: $59.0 million

Like Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić could become a free agent next offseason. He's already said that he will. But it's not because he's planning on leaving Denver. 

If he extends his contract now, he'd be able to sign a four-year, $276 million deal. If he declines his player option and re-signs with the Nuggets as a free agent next offseason, he'll be eligible for a five-year deal worth more than $355 million.

The 31-year-old said at media day that he will re-sign with the Nuggets "if they want me." 

Spoiler alert: They want him.

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

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2026-27 salary: $62.6 million

Curry's reign as the NBA's highest-paid player will end after this season. 

Curry was eligible for a $65.7 million salary next season, but he took a pay cut with the two-year extension he signed in September. He'll instead make $55.7 million next season. 

Considering he's 38 years old and coming off a season in which he missed 39 games mostly due to runner's knee, he probably wasn't worth his max solely from an on-court perspective. That max would have paid him $71 million for the 2028-29 season. 

Of course, he's been worth exponentially more than he's made over his career since he's been the biggest reason why the Warriors went from an afterthought to the NBA's most valuable franchise. 

The Dubs are projected to be a cap-space team next offseason and will have better options with the $10 million pay cut Curry took. It'll be up to general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Warriors' front office to take advantage of it.