The 10 Biggest Contract Extensions in NBA History

It wasn't that long ago that high-end NBA players consistently went to free agency before signing max contracts, often with new teams.

Now, extensions are all the rage. 

Here, we've highlighted the 10 biggest extensions in NBA history by total value. All 10 were signed since July 2022. 

To say the least, it's good to be an NBA star right now from a financial perspective.

T-9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Extension: Five years, $244.6 million (signed through 2028-29)

Edwards signed his extension at 21, the youngest age any player featured here has signed one. His deal is fully guaranteed with no player or team options, so he's under contract through the 2028-29 season.

If he signs another max deal with the Timberwolves that begins in 2029, he could earn nearly $90 million in the final year of that contract based on current projections.

Edwards is already one of the NBA's best players. Perhaps no player is worth a salary that big, but Edwards would be on the short list of players whom you might give it to anyway and ask questions later.

T-9. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

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Extension: Five years, $244.6 million (signed through 2028-29)

Tyrese Haliburton has never been named to the All-NBA first or second teams, but it may only be a matter of time before he gets that recognition. 

In his last healthy season (2024-25), he made the All-NBA third team before going on a playoff run that had him looking like a clear top-10 player. However, Haliburton then missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. 

NBA fans should hope he gets another chance in the Finals at some point in his career.

8. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

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Extension: Five years, $255.2 million (signed through 2031-32)

Victor Wembanyama just signed his extension in July, but he didn't take his full max amount. He could have received roughly $50 million more if he wins MVP, Defensive Player of the Year or makes an All-NBA team in 2026-27, yet he didn't include that language in his contract.

The Spurs did offer him the full boat, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright, but Wembanyama "ultimately chose a contract sacrifice rooted in giving him and the organization increased ability to build a sustained title contender around him."

Wemby seems strictly focused on winning NBA championships. Leaving money on the table should give the Spurs more spending power to keep them in the Western Conference's contender tier, particularly with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper also due new deals in the next few years.

Even if he doesn't improve, Wemby is worth every penny of his extension. But the 22-year-old should only get better over the next several seasons and make this extension look like a massive bargain.

T-6. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Extension: Five years, $269.1 million (signed through 2029-30)

Evan Mobley isn't considered a Tier 1 NBA star, but he's extremely valuable nonetheless. 

Offensively, he's good for an efficient 18 points per game and can knock down three-pointers. Defensively, he can both protect the rim and switch onto guards on the perimeter. 

One could argue he's slightly overpaid, but that doesn't change the fact that every team would love to have him. After all, he won Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-NBA second team in 2024-25.

The next step for the 25-year-old power forward is rediscovering his three-point stroke after he shot 29.7 percent from downtown last season.

T-6. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

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Extension: Five years, $269.1 million (signed through 2029-30)

Cade Cunningham had one of the NBA's biggest offensive loads last year, but that didn't prevent him from balling out in the playoffs. He averaged 28.1 points, 7.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game while guiding the Detroit Pistons within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cunningham made the All-NBA third team and earned his first All-Star nod in 2024-25. Last season, he finished fifth in MVP voting and landed on the All-NBA first team.

The Pistons should look to trade for a second star who can support Cunningham offensively on the perimeter. If they get that trade right, they could be a championship contender for years to come.

T-4. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Extension: Four years, $276.0 million (signed through 2030-21)

The average annual value of Donovan Mitchell's new four-year extension is projected to be $69.0 million, which is tied for the highest on this list. 

Mitchell is certainly one of the best guards in the league. He's received seven straight All-Star nods, has finished within the top seven of MVP voting in three of the past four seasons, and landed on either the All-NBA first team or second team in each of those seasons as well.

However, it's fair to wonder whether the Cleveland Cavaliers can win a title while paying Mitchell and Mobley as much as they are. If the Cavs fall short again this season, calls to break up their core will get even louder.

T-4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

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Extension: Four years, $276.0 million (signed through 2030-31)

If anyone is worth $69.0 million annually, it's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The two-time reigning MVP is an efficient, high-volume scorer despite routinely facing intense defensive attention. 

The Thunder will have to make some tough decisions with their core in the coming years, as they can't pay everyone. They already have SGA signed to a 35 percent max, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren on 25 percent maxes, and they just signed Cason Wallace to a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale extension.

But no matter which direction they go moving forward, the one player they can't afford to lose is Gilgeous-Alexander.

3. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

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Extension: Five years, $276.1 million (signed through 2027-28)

The big question surrounding Nikola Jokić is what his next contract will look like. 

Jokić is widely expected to decline his $62.8 million player option next offseason to become an unrestricted free agent. Based on current projections, he'll be eligible to sign either a five-year, $359.5 million deal with the Denver Nuggets or a four-year, $266.5 million contract with other teams.

The Nuggets will likely give Jokić however much money he wants, though they may be hesitant to pay him more than $80 million in 2031-32, his age-36 season.

2. Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers

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Extension: Five years, $285.4 million (signed through 2028-29)

Jaylen Brown's contract has become a major talking point around the NBA this offseason.

The Boston Celtics traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in July in part because they didn't believe they could build another championship team with Brown and Jayson Tatum each earning roughly 35 percent of the salary cap.

Of the two, Brown has been less efficient offensively and less impactful from a plus/minus perspective. If they felt compelled to trade one of the two, it made sense for them to keep Tatum.

However, Brown is in the midst of his prime and coming off an All-NBA second-team selection. And he plays arguably the most coveted position in the sport. 

Were the C's right to trade him? Or did the 76ers swindle their division rivals? We should start to get an answer to that question this season.

1. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

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Extension: Five years, $313.9 million (signed through 2029-30)

It's been a wild few years for Jayson Tatum. 

He helped lead the Boston Celtics to a championship in June 2024. One month later, he signed the largest extension in NBA history.

Less than a year after that, he tore his Achilles in the playoffs.

He came back from that injury faster than expected, but he missed Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against the 76ers with knee stiffness this past spring.

If Tatum has a healthy 2026-27 campaign and returns to his pre-Achilles injury form, he should make good on his record-setting deal.