The highest paid NBA players in 2023: the top 50

With the main names of free agency already settled, it’s time to take a look at the new list of the 50 highest-paid NBA players in 2023. Some names disappear after several years earning real millions, others strongly increase the entry into force of his new contracts, and the leader, recently reinforced with his first Finals MVP, remains intact.

Curry, in charge for the sixth consecutive year

As has been the norm since the 17-18 season, Stephen Curry will once again be the highest-paid player in the league this year. The extension the point guard signed last summer will go into effect this year, earning him $48 million, and the way he scales his salary he’s destined to continue to top the list until that contract expires. Between 2023 and 2026, Steph will receive more than 50 million annually, becoming the first player in history to overcome this barrier.

Second place this time goes to Russell Westbrook, who after executing the player option which his contract had, he will charge a total of 47 million. Although the Lakers player comes from a very controversial season and there were many who wanted him not to make this option effective, no one in his right mind would reject so much money in view of his current market value, which will keep him in the highest positions. off the list for another year. Of course, it will be necessary to see if once the season starts the Lakers or another franchise are in charge of paying that amount.

Who the Lakers will pay the 44.5 million contemplated in their contract is LeBron James, who returns to the podium of the highest paid this year. This places the Angelenos with two men among the three highest salaries in the competition, a huge outlay that, after last year’s fiasco, we will see if this time they can convert into sporting success.

The Nets do not seem to be able to seek the same objective, who surely have no other choice but to transfer Kevin Durant, the fourth highest paid player in the league. The forward signed an extension with the New Yorkers in August 2021 that, like Curry’s, now comes into force and will make him receive 42.9 million, but from last year to the present many things have changed and the player does not seem to have currently intend to continue in Brooklyn. Still, the franchise is having a hard time finding deals that suit his interests, so KD’s future remains uncertain. His pocket, yes, will be overflowing full.

Close the top-5 Bradley Beal, who becomes one of the players who has climbed the most in the table after his renewal with the Wizards. The shooting guard was ranked 18th on the list last season, but his new agreement will make him obtain almost 9 million more than in the 21-22 season (from 34.5 to 43.3) and occupy a position of honor in the process on this list. Close behind in a four-way tie are Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Klay Thompson is in charge of closing the top-10 of the highest paid NBA players in 2023.

New generation of better paid

However, Beal has not been the only one to climb many positions. Like every year, the players who have finished their contracts with rookie and have signed extensions have crept into notable positions on the list, a role that has been exercised this year by those chosen in the 2018 draft. Specifically, there have been six men who have gone through this process, although in different ways.

Luka Doncic and Trae Young have been the ones who have accessed the highest positions, because with their respective contracts of 215 million in 5 years they have entered tied for 16th position. Both have stood out since entering the NBA and have earned the right to sign the highest possible contract, since their appearances in the All-Star and All-NBA quintets have placed them one step above the rest of the men in their generation.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Porter Jr., for their part, also signed the highest figure they aspired to, which in their case was 179.3 million also in five years. This has seen them enter 34th in the table, a decision that seems especially risky in the case of the Nuggets forward due to his frequent physical problems. This is a factor that has also affected, although to a lesser extent, the career of Jaren Jackson Jr., who after his extension of four courses and 105 million has entered position 41.

The most particular cases are those of Jalen Brunson and Deandre Ayton, who unlike the rest did not agree to their contract last summer. The base waited for this year to decide his future, something that, after his excellent performance in the playoffs, has been confirmed as a success on his part, since it will allow him to collect some 24.2 million to which he would not have aspired much less in 2021 The one from the Suns, for his part, preferred to wait until he became a restricted free agent to look outside of Phoenix for the maximum that his franchise did not give him, an offer that he found in Indiana but that those from Arizona matched to make sure they continue counting on him. .

Notable drops

The opposite situation has also been taken for granted, that of players who fall many places or even disappear. The latter is the case of John Wall, who has gone from being the second highest earning player to not even being close to being on the list, since the point guard will enter this course 38 million dollars less than last year. Once the contract that he signed with the Wizards in 2017 has expired, the player has signed for what is now the real value of him, which, unfortunately, is far from what he had before the injury.

On the other hand, the fall of James Harden stands out, who was in third place last year and in fact had the option of climbing to second this time, since he had a player option worth 47.4 million. His descent is therefore a personal decision, since the shooting guard opted a few weeks ago to decline said possibility and sign a longer but less substantial contract that would give the 76ers some salary space to improve his squad.

The franchises that pay the most and the least

This list also allows us to take a look at which are the franchises that have the most players among the highest paid NBA players in 2023, a category dominated by the Golden State Warriors with four men among the 50 with the highest salary, two of them in the top 10. San Francisco, defending champions, have turned out well this large investment, something that cannot be said of several of the franchises that follow closely with three players in the table. The aforementioned Lakers are one of them, and it is also the case of the Nets, who however with the uncertain situation of Durant and Irving could soon leave this position.

On the opposite side we find the five teams that do not have any players in the table: Magic, Pistons, Pacers, Rockets and Spurs. These are, as seems reasonable, teams in the process of rebuilding, which have managed to get rid of the heaviest contracts and are looking to grow young players who can earn a place among the best paid in the future.

Highest paid NBA players in 2023

Below is the list of the 50 highest paid NBA players in 2023 with their salaries in dollars and the team they belong to.

On our website you can visit the file that contains the highest paid players in the NBA since the 1984-85 campaign. You have direct access in the side menu on our home page —or lower if you visit this page from a mobile device— within the ‘Featured’ section.

Data from ESPN and Spotrac. The NBA does not make player salaries public.

(Portrait photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)