Jalen Brunson and Mark Jackson
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Jalen Brunson has been the newest darling of the New York basketball scene. His father once represented the franchise, and the Villanova product made the big money move over to The Big Apple from Dallas. Originally a second-round pick, Brunson made a little over $1 million for four-straight years. Betting on himself and his development, Brunson exploded into a very good point guard. Flush with cash, the Knicks ended up giving him $104 million over four seasons.
The same cannot be said for Mark Jackson. Jackson epitomizes NYC basketball in many ways. He was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Queens, played for St. Johns, and had a major impact on playground hoop culture (as did his late brother Escalade from the And1 tours). Eventually making his way to the Knicks as a rookie, Jackson enjoyed a 16-year career as one of the most prolific passers in the league. Despite being an elite passer, he made just over $40 million collectively for his entire career.
Steve Nash and Luka Doncic
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The two maestros of Dallas’ franchise over the last 20 years. Steve Nash — the whimsical point guard out of Canada (by way of South Africa), and Luka Doncic — the bruising bull of a ballhandler from the country of Slovenia. Both are high basketball I.Q. players with an unassuming ruthlessness on the court. Nash was a two-time MVP, and as such cashed in quite well. He accumulated $146 million throughout his lengthy career with the Suns, Mavs, and Lakers.
Doncic is just starting his journey as an NBA superstar. At 25 years old, Doncic’s rookie extension will pay him approximately $247 million by the time he turns 27. At that point, he’ll be eligible for the supermax deal. Assuming Doncic stays healthy, he looks like a surefire bet to bank at least half a billion by the conclusion of his playing career.
Kevin Garnett and Karl-Anthony Towns
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When Kevin Garnett signed a massive contract extension with the Timberwolves in 1997, it made him the highest-paid player in the league. At the time, Garnett’s six-year, $121 million extension was the richest long-term contract in sports history. As it turned out, Garnett was well worth the deal as he ended up earning 15 All-Star nods and the league MVP in ’04. Over his illustrious career, Garnett earned a reported $343 million in salary.
Following stints with the Celtics and Nets, Garnett returned to Minnesota in 2014 where he began serving as a mentor for two No. 1 overall picks – Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. The latter of which is still with Minnesota, and is already one of the most decorated players in the team’s history. Towns’ upcoming extension will kick in following the 2024 season. When it ends, Towns will have earned $406 million over his career.
Michael Jordan and Bradley Beal
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Bradley Beal is a fine player. He’s made three All-Star teams to date, and can put the ball in the basket. Michael Jordan is — of course — the G.O.A.T. Let us compare the salaries each has made in the NBA during their careers.
Bradley Beal (with existing years left on current deal): $428.9 million
Michael Jordan: $94 million
Only twice did MJ make more than $5 million in a single season in which he played. Beal is slated to make $57 million alone in 2026-27.
Stephen Curry and Wilt Chamberlain
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One of the great players of any era, Wilt Chamberlain broke salary records back in 1968 when he inked a five-year contract worth $250,000. A number that large had never been heard of at that time, and cemented Chamberlain as one of the top stars of his generation. Of course, salaries have increased a fair amount since that time.
Stephen Curry, for example, made $2.7 million as a rookie out of Davidson. That was well before Curry had won four championships and set all-time records. Since 2009, the NBA’s three-point king has earned over $300 million in his career. He’s also set to be one of the highest-paid players for the next several seasons. His current deal – which runs through 2026 – will grant him an additional $170 over the next three seasons.
Gary Payton and Russell Westbrook
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Two of the most decorated point guards in league history, Gary Payton and Russell Westbrook earned vastly different salaries over their careers. While Payton was regarded as one of the league’s best defenders and playmakers, his yearly salary was capped at $12.9 million during the ’01-’02 seasons. In total, Payton earned $104 million throughout his career.
Westbrook passed that mark in just the last few seasons alone. In ’23, Westbrook opted into the final year of his deal worth $47 million. The former MVP and all-time leader in triple-doubles has earned over $340 million in 16 seasons.
Landry Shamet and Charles Barkley
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Looking at Charles Barkley’s career earnings (a former MVP and 11-time All-Star) compared to Landry Shamet (career reserve who has been in the league for five years) shows just how far the game has progressed. Barkley was one of the top players of his era and is regarded as one of the top 20 or 30 greatest players ever. In 14 NBA seasons, Barkley earned $40 million.
Shamet has made a nice career for himself after being a late-first-round pick out of Wichita State. A good shooter and capable playmaker, Shamet inked a four-year extension with the Suns but was promptly shipped to Washington in exchange for Bradley Beal. The four-year deal will pay him $42 million – setting his career earnings to just under $52 million. That number probably has Barkley wishing he was born a few years later.
Kawhi Leonard and David Robinson
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‘The Admiral’ David Robinson was the first piece put in place to ignite a very strong Spurs dynasty under Head Coach Gregg Popovich. He was a walking double-double — and a guy who was a matchup nightmare for practically anyone not named Shaquille O’Neal. Despite being a Hall of Famer and 10-time All-Star (among many other accolades), Robinson made only $119 million during his career.
Contrast that with Kawhi Leonard — an often-injured star who spends as much time on the bench as he does on the floor. That’s not to take away from his ability to play basketball. When healthy, few can match up with his level as a two-way player. Conversely, Leonard has cashed in big time with the Spurs, Raptors, and now the Clippers. Leonard recently signed a three-year/$149,650,000 extension with LA. In total, Leonard will have made approximately $426 million by 2027.
James Harden and Hakeem Olajuwon
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Harden and Olajuwon both previously starred for the Rockets. Of course, Olajuwon is a Hall of Famer who led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships. He will forever be known as the best player in the history of the franchise. Harden may have been the best scorer, but he never attained the same level of postseason success. Naturally, though, we’d think it would offer an interesting comparison to show their money totals side by side:
Harden’s career earnings: $338.5 million
Olajuwon’s career earnings: $110.2 million
Vince Carter and OG Anunoby
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Vince Carter is arguably the best player to ever suit up for the franchise (though some will mention Tracy McGrady, Kawhi Leonard, and DeMar DeRozan in that same breath). For the sake of comparisons, let’s look at Carter versus OG Anunoby (now with the Knicks). Vinsanity is probably the best in-game dunker we’ve seen to date. He lit up throughout his career — coinciding with hefty deals from the Raptors and then the Nets. Towards the end of his career, he morphed into a surprisingly strong role player. In 22 seasons(!), Carter hauled in over $172 million.
Anunoby is on pace to make that in practically a third of the time. A springy wing defender with terrific length and upside, teams have always been enamored with Anunoby’s ultimate ceiling. The 26-year-old has played seven seasons so far — making $61 million. With the way his career is unfolding, a $100-million deal is surely in the cards.
Ben Wallace and Alec Burks
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Ben Wallace was the defensive anchor for a Detroit Pistons team that made six-straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. In Detroit’s memorable 2004 Finals victory, Wallace did his best at slowing down all-time great center Shaquille O’Neal. Though he was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-NBA selection, Wallace was never paid like a superstar…until he left Detroit for Chicago, where he inked a three-year deal worth $46 million – making him one of the 15 highest-paid players in the league.
Former Pistons guard Alec Burks has been in the league since 2011 and has never been named an All-Star. Wallace (who started 116 playoff games in his career) earned $87 million over 16 NBA seasons. Burks (who has started zero playoff games in his career) will have amassed $88 million after his current deal expires following this season.
David West and Zion Williamson
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Squaring off are the former face of the franchise versus the current face of the franchise. Both were/are somewhat atypical for the power forward position — with West being a knockdown midrange shooter, and Williamson being the closest thing we’ve seen to a prime Charles Barkley. West was a two-time All-Star throughout his career. As such, he parlayed the strong play into a few sizable deals. The most noteworthy was a multi-year agreement with the Pacers. In total, he made over $92 million throughout his 15-year career.
On the other end of the spectrum is Williamson — the former top overall pick with unbelievable athleticism and unusual dimensions for a perceived superstar. Built like an offensive tackle/defensive end, Williamson has been a terror in the paint for the opposition to stop. When healthy, he’s been one of the league’s most efficient scorers. He is set to be under contract through the 2027-28 season — by that time, his career earnings will top $240 million.
Reggie Miller and Buddy Hield
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Pacers fans have been treated to two of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history. Of course, Reggie Miller is the former three-point king. In a time where the three-point arc was largely ignored, Miller was a marksman who helped pave the way for players today. Miller made 2,560 threes in his career (plus 320 in the postseason) – a record that has since been broken by Ray Allen, Stephen Curry and James Harden.
Hield recently set the record for the fastest player to record 1,000 career threes. The former Oklahoma Sooner is fourth all-time in three-pointers made per game (3.08). Elite three-point shooters like Hield are paid handsomely in today’s NBA, as the Pacer guard will have earned $101 million by the end of this season. Miller made $105 million in his career. The main difference being it took Miller 18 years to reach that mark while Hield will reach the century milestone in just Year 8.
Kenyon Martin and Nikola Jokic
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Comparing Kenyon Martin and Nikola Jokic is a reminder that players are not defined by their draft position. Martin was the No. 1 pick in the 2000 NBA Draft following an illustrious career at Cincinnati. The athletic forward went on to to play a productive 15 years in the NBA, though the one-time All-Star never reached the All-NBA level. Still, Martin raked in a healthy $112 million in his playing career.
Jokic, on the other hand, is a former second-round pick who has since blossomed into a superstar. The two-time MVP is looking for a third trophy in 2024. After being overlooked in the 2014 NBA Draft, Jokic is currently on a deal that will run up his career earnings to a $422 million tab.
Kevin Durant and Kerry Kittles
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This one will surely look a bit alarming when comparing Kittles to KD. For a long spell in the 90s, Kittle was one of the Nets’ best players. He had a relatively short NBA career (eight years). However, he did manage to make a respectable $55.58 million over that time span. For most people who played professional sports, that’d be a boatload of money.
In reality, it still is. When looking at Kevin Durant’s money totals, however, it’s quite striking to see the difference. As a disclaimer, Kittles was also a good player! He averaged 14.1 PPG throughout his career before retiring. This past year, Durant made $42.9 million ALONE! In the last year of his current contract (2025-26), he’s slated to make north of $53 million. Meaning, in one year Durant will have made nearly as much as Kittles did for his entire career. If you combine all of the years Durant has played/is under contract to play, he will have made a whopping $495 million.
Penny Hardaway and Rashard Lewis
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Rashard Lewis was a little bit before his time. A 6-foot-10 forward with a sweet stroke, he just narrowly missed out on the era where being a stretch four with a green light from three was the norm. That’s not to say he didn’t get ‘paid’ during the duration of his career. In 16 seasons with Seattle, Washington, Miami and Orlando, Lewis hauled in just over $151 million.
Penny Hardaway’s career was snake-bit by injury after what appeared to be a highly promising start. He made four-straight All-Star appearances for the Magic — and had the look of a surefire Hall of Famer. However, his career stalled upon moving to Phoenix. Injuries sabotaged his athleticism, and Hardaway simply was never the same player. Despite this, he still pulled in $120 million.
Russell Westbrook and Magic Johnson
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There aren’t many former NBA players as recognizable as the all-time great Magic Johnson. Revered as the greatest point guard in league history, Johnson dominated the game with his gift for sharing the basketball. The 6-foot-8 savant could do everything on the floor, but his passing ability made him particularly unique. The same goes for former league MVP Russell Westbrook. The current Clipper ranks ninth all-time in assists having averaged over eight dimes per game over his career.
When Westbrook’s contract expires after this year, he will have earned over $340 million during his career. Johnson’s deal with the Lakers didn’t expire until well after his playing career was over. That’s because he signed a massive 25-year contract with the team back in 1984. The team was still paying Johnson as recently as 2010, as the famed guard earned just under $40 million for his playing career – and a lot more outside of it.
Mitch Richmond and Richaun Holmes
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For most of the 90s, Mitch Richmond’s scoring acumen was the only thing Kings’ fans could look forward to seeing. The Kings were largely dreadful while Richmond was a member of the team, having made the playoffs just once from ’92-98 (they lost in the first round). However, Richmond was one of the game’s top scorers and was named an All-NBA player five times. Richmond earned a reported $50 million in his career, with his highest paydays occurring as a member of the Wizards when he made $10 million each year from ’00-02.
Richaun Holmes was with the Kings for four years after becoming a success story from the 76ers’ “process era.” Now with the Washington Wizards, Holmes will have earned $61 million over his pro career when his contract expires following the 2023-24 season.
Karl Malone and Rudy Gobert
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Karl Malone, a former MVP and 14-time All-NBA selection, earned between $2-6 million from ’92-99 but saw a massive pay raise before the 2000 season. That year, Malone was paid $14 million – a top-10 figure in the league at the time. The four-year deal he signed before that season paid him $66 million in total (granting him career earnings of just over $105 million). Notably, Malone was 36 years old at the time he signed the deal. Already a bit past his prime, there’s no telling how much Malone could have made if that amount of money had been around during his peak.
Perhaps it would have put him closer to former Jazz big man Rudy Gobert in the all-time earnings leaderboard. Gobert is one of the league’s top defenders, though has been maligned for his limited offensive skillset. Still, Gobert has already made $172 million in his career, and is set to make an additional $130 million before his contract expires in 2026.
Larry Johnson and Bismack Biyombo
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This one might make Charlotte Hornets fans cry. Larry Johnson was a STUD throughout the 90s. What he lacked in height he made up for with long arms, sharp elbows, supreme physicality, and high-end athleticism. He was a total bull in the paint and often outworked anyone who was tasked with guarding him. The former No. 1 Overall Pick made two All-Star teams, won Rookie of the Year in 1992, and was an All-NBA Second-Team selection in 1993. Despite this, Johnson only banked $83 million throughout his 10-year career (with much of that coming from the Knicks).
Biyombo was drafted solely on potential. He’s a freak athlete but has proven to be immensely raw throughout his 13-year career. We’re talking about a guy who’s been a career reserve averaging 5.1 PPG for his career. Despite this, Biyombo has made more money than Johnson has throughout his career. A four-year, $67 million deal from the Magic netted much of his wealth. Collectively, Biyombo has banked nearly $96 million.
Tim Hardaway and Tyler Herro
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Tim Hardaway is both a Hall of Famer and a five-time All-Star. During his prime, he was a lethal guard getting to the rim. Hardaway scored on pretty much anyone who tried to check him in both the half-court and in transition. His high money-wise for a single season was $12.2 million (with the Heat). Hardaway didn’t even make at least $1 million in a season until Year 4 of his career. In total, he netted $46.6 million as an NBA player.
Conversely, Herro has been raking in the cash. His four years as a rookie led to him making approximately $16 million. One four-year extension later, and Herro will have made $136 million by the 2026-27 season (where he won’t even be 30 years old by that point). Oh yeah — and Herro hasn’t made one All-Star appearance. His best year coincided with a Sixth Man of the Year award.
Clint Capela and Dominique Wilkins
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Now this is a fascinating case. Dominique Wilkins was among the league’s best players during his prime. Some could make an argument he’s the best player to ever suit up for the Hawks. Even though this was the case, he never made more than $3.5 million in a single season (a combined $23.6 million over 14 years). Remember, you’re talking about a nine-time All-Star and Hall of Famer.
Capela — on the other hand — has never made an All-Star team despite being a very good rebounder and shot blocker. In the years he’s played for both Houston and Atlanta, Capela has made over $106 million. By the end of next year, his career total will skyrocket to $130 million. Yes — more than $100 million in difference compared to Wilkins.
Pau Gasol and Mike Conley Jr.
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For a while, Pau Gasol was the face of the Grizzlies franchise. Before making his way to LA (as an eventual two-time Champion), Gasol was putting up workmanlike numbers — virtually averaging a double-double after being taken high in the first round. On his rookie deal, Gasol made a combined $13 million. The next year, he made $10.9 million alone. He steadily ‘got the bag’ playing as a member of the Lakers. After retiring in 2019-20, Gasol accrued a reported $225.4 million.
The post (Pau) Gasol years featured younger brother Marc and talented PG Mike Conley Jr. The former Ohio State star gave the Grizzlies 12 years before moving on to the Utah Jazz. Now with Minnesota, Conley will have made $293 million by the end of the 2025-26 season — roughly $70 million more than Gasol made comparatively speaking.
Elton Brand and Nicolas Batum
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Former Duke star Elton Brand was integral in breaking the Clippers’ playoff dry spell. When Brand led the Clippers to a playoff spot (and series win) in 2006, it was the first time the franchise had reached the postseason since 1997. Now, the Clippers are a playoff mainstay and haven’t had a losing record since 2011.
Previously a starter for the Clips, Nicolas Batum is now with the 76ers. While Batum has never been an All-Star or considered one of the top players in the league, he’s made a fair amount of money over his career earning $195 million since entering the league in 2008. Brand was one of the top power forwards of his era, but made just $165 million in 18 seasons.
Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird
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It only feels right to compare arguably the best player in the history of the franchise (Larry Bird) alongside the current best player on the team (Jayson Tatum). There are some natural similarities between the two — starting with the fact both are/were jumbo wings standing at least 6-foot-9. They operate as alpha scorers and also assume the role of the go-to guy for the franchise. During Bird’s career, he saw himself making only $650,000 per year for the first five years of his rookie deal. The numbers jumped up a bit — and Bird ended up collectively making just over $25 million for the entire duration of his career as a player.
Boy, how things have changed. Tatum — also selected high in the first round — made $5.6 million alone during his rookie campaign. As of 2024, Tatum has featured in seven NBA seasons. To this point, he’s banked $120 million. In terms of money he’s guaranteed to earn on his current deal, Tatum will have banked $192 million collectively after nine years in the league.
LeBron James and Darius Garland
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To the surprise of nobody, LeBron James is the highest-paid player in league history. Since being drafted in 2003, James has earned nearly $480 million over his playing career. And, that number will continue to rise considering his career doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon. James is set to sign a new deal following the 2023-24 season.
Times have certainly changed since James was a young player. James’ first extension with the Cavaliers back in 2006 paid him $60 million over four seasons. Current Cavs star Darius Garland recently inked his first extension with the team, worth a whopping $193 million over the next five years. By the time Garland’s deal ends he will be just 28 years old and will have already earned over $220 million in his career.
Scottie Pippen and Goran Dragic
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Playing alongside Michael Jordan, two-way forward Scottie Pippen won six titles and made seven All-NBA teams. However, the Hall of Famer always felt underpaid. It was one of the main reasons he bolted for Houston after the ’98 season. Pippen never made more than $2.75 million in a single year with Chicago, but his salary jumped up to $11 million with the Rockets. In total, he made $109 million when his career had concluded.
Goran Dragic was a reserve until signing with the Suns in the 2013 season. After being given a chance to start, Dragic developed into one of the more reliable point guards in the league and was named an All-Star in 2018. Recently retired, Dragic amassed over $154 million in his playing career.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Two league MVPs were among the highest-paid players during the height of their careers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA’s all-time scoring leader for 40 years and won the league MVP a record six times. After winning a title with the Bucks in 1971, Abdul-Jabbar eventually joined the Lakers where he added an additional five NBA Championships. He made waves in his final season with the Lakers when he earned a then-record $3 million for a single season. It’s estimated that Abdul-Jabbar made $20 million from salaries during his playing career.
Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo makes over $20 million in half a season. The Greek superstar has signed deals worth over $459 million during his career with the Bucks. And, Giannis will be a free agent again in 2028.
Damian Lillard and Clyde Drexler
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It didn’t take long for Clyde Drexler to assert himself as one of the top shooting guards in the league. Following an exquisite run with the Blazers, Drexler moved to Houston where he joined former college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon on the Houston Rockets. By joining the Rockets, Drexler’s yearly salary increased considerably. The All-NBA guard had made just $1.5 million in his final year in Portland and earned a reported $9.8 million in his first season in Houston.
Still, Drexler’s combined earnings of around $30 million pale in comparison to Portland’s former star. Currently in his first year with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lillard played the first 11 of his NBA seasons as a member of the Trail Blazers. For his talent and loyalty, Portland rewarded the six-time All-NBA selection with a few massive extensions. Lillard has already made $279 million in his career, but that number jumps to just over $440 million by the time his current deal expires in 2027.
Allen Iverson and Tobias Harris
Outside of disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers fans, I’m not sure people realize how much money Tobias Harris has made during his tenure in the City of Brotherly Love. Starting his career in 2011, Harris has steadily made more and more money — culminating in a massive deal he accrued with the 76ers (in 2019-20). The deal saw him sign a five-year deal which netted him more than $30 mil a year. Through 2023-24, Harris will have earned over $248 million. Pretty good for what many consider to be a ‘decent’ — albeit unspectacular — player compared to his peers.
Iverson, on the other hand, was the heart and soul of this franchise for years. Not to mention, a perennial All-Star, four-time NBA scoring champion, and 2001 league MVP. Despite the accolades, Iverson NEVER made more than $20 million in one season — and that ironically came as a member of the Pistons. To put it into perspective, Harris will be set to earn $39 million in the final year of his deal. With the 76ers, Iverson never made more than $16.4 mil in a single year. Over Iverson’s career, he’s made nearly $100 million less ($154 million) than Harris will ($248 million) through ’24.
