Top 10 Biggest NBA Contracts

As the NBA keeps on growing in popularity around the world, teams’ salary caps keep on rising, too, meaning that every year, the best free agents are able to sign new record-breaking contracts. Let’s now take a look at the 10 largest contracts in the NBA!

What Are the Biggest NBA Basketball Contracts of All Time?

1. Nikola Jokić - 5 years, $272 million
2. Bradley Beal - 5 years, $251 million
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 5 years, $228 million
4. Devin Booker - 4 years, $224 million
5. Karl-Anthony Towns - 4 years, $224 million
6. Stephen Curry - 4 years, $215 million
7. Luka Dončić - 5 years, $215 million
8. Zach LaVine - 5 years, $215 million
9. Trae Young - 5 years, $215 million
10. Joel Embiid - 5 years, $210 million

1. Nikola Jokić - 5 years, $272 million

After signing his supermax extension in July of 2022, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić has become the highest-paid player in the league, with a five-year $272 million extension that is also the biggest contract in NBA history. Since his arrival in the NBA, Nikola Jokić has changed the center position thanks to his all-around play and flashy passes. This has earned him four All-Star selections and a record-setting contract to keep him with the Denver Nuggets through 2028.

2. Bradley Beal - 5 years, $251 million

Despite months of trade rumors, Bradley Beal agreed to a five-year, $251 million supermax in July of 2022 to keep on being the Washington Wizards franchise player. This is Bradley Beal’s fourth contract with the Wizards and the second-biggest deal in the league’s history. Drafted by the Wizards in 2012, Beal has become one of the all-time greats in the district, taking his team to the playoffs on five occasions and making it to the All-Star team three times.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 5 years, $228 million

After coming into the NBA as an unknown young prospect from Europe, Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken the basketball world by storm showing unprecedented athletic abilities, allowing him to sign a five-year $228 million supermax extension to stay with the Bucks through the 2026 NBA season. Winning NBA MVP titles and a Defensive Player of the Year Award put the Greek Freak in line to sign the contract, which will be Giannis’ second contract extension with the Bucks after his $100 million deal in 2016.

4. Devin Booker - 4 years, $224 million

Having made it to the All-NBA First Team in 2022, Devin Booker became eligible for a supermax extension with the Phoenix Suns after he had signed a new contract in 2018 following his rookie deal, and his new four-year, $224 million extension is among the largest contracts in the history of the game. This contract rewards the guard for being one of the main players in turning around the Suns’ franchise, which, after years of losses, finished with the best record in the league in 2022.

5. Karl-Anthony Towns - 4 years, $224 million

Similarly to his former teammate at the University of Kentucky, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns signed a four-year $224 supermax extension following his second selection to the All-NBA Third Team. In seven seasons with the Timberwolves, KAT helped the team end the 14-year playoff drought in 2018 and made another postseason appearance in 2022. Towns also racked up three All-Star appearances and the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2016.

6. Stephen Curry - 4 years, $215 million

Steph Curry’s four-year $215 million extension makes him one of the biggest earners in NBA history. Following his rookie contract, Curry signed a four-year, $44 million extension in 2012, which was followed by a five-year, $201 million deal in the 2017 offseason. Over the years, Steph Curry has cemented his status as one of the greatest players of all time with four NBA rings, two regular-season MVPs, and a Finals MVP to his name.

7. Luka Dončić - 5 years, $215 million

Dallas Mavericks ace Luka Dončić belongs to the group of European players that are dominating in the NBA, and his five-year $215 million supermax extension is tied for seventh in the list of the biggest contracts in the NBA. This contract comes following three straight All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections and the Rookie of the Year Award in 2019.

8. Zach LaVine - 5 years, $215 million

Following his trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine has established himself among the best players, and this led the Bulls to hand him a five-year $215 million max contract at the end of the 2022 season. Although he had attracted interest from many other teams, Zach LaVine, a two-time All-Star player, signed his extension to stay with the Bulls after leading them to their first playoff appearance since 2017.

9. Trae Young - 5 years, $215 million

Just like Zach LaVine and fellow 2018 NBA draftee Luka Dončić, Trae Young signed a five-year max extension in the summer of 2021 to stay with the Atlanta Hawks, with a price tag of $215 million. Young joined the Hawks in 2018 and quickly turned a lottery team into a playoff squad that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. In four seasons in Atlanta, Trae Young has made it to the All-Star Game twice and was voted into the All-NBA Third Team in 2022.

10. Joel Embiid - 5 years, $210 million

In August 2021, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers reached an agreement for a five-year $210 million extension to keep the Cameroonian center on the team through 2027. This follows Embiid’s first contract extension in 2017 at the expiration of his rookie deal. Despite the injuries, Embiid has become one of the most dominant players in the league on both ends of the court in a Philadelphia 76ers team that clinched the Eastern Conference in 2021.

Honorable Mentions

• Anthony Davis
• Kevin Durant
• Darius Garland
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Rudy Gobert
• Tobias Harris
• Ja Morant
• Klay Thompson
• Russell Westbrook
• Zion Williamson

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