Welcome to the Big Leagues, Kid
There’s no better feeling in the world for an athlete than getting signed to a team. The fans, the coaches, and every one of your teammates value your skill—enough for hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank. We all know athletes get paid a fortune, but NBA stars rake in the cake like no other. It’s time we lived vicariously through some of the biggest names in the league!
1. Jayson Tatum
Tatum and the Boston Celtics are set to make history with this record-breaking deal. Once signed, this power forward would be set to make a whopping $314 million over the next five years. It’s the biggest deal ever signed in the NBA!
2. Jaylen Brown
Believe it or not, Tatum isn’t the only all-star making a hefty salary on the Celtics. His teammate, Jaylen Brown, once held one of the biggest contracts in the league at $286 million. Brown actually held the record for being the highest-paid player in the NBA until Tatum swooped in.
Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA on Wikimedia
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oh, you thought $286 million was a lot of money? (It is, don’t get us wrong.) Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t far behind with his contract, coming in just shy at $285 million, another record-breaker that he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
4. Nikola Jokic
Back in 2022, Jokic signed a five-year contract with the Denver Nuggets for an impressive $275 million—but oddly enough, that’s not even the most interesting part. Fans have often speculated whether the superstar’s heart is truly in the game, especially since he’s pretty open about his feelings towards it! That said, he almost retired in 2022 before his cousins talked him out of it.
Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA on Wikimedia
5. Evan Mobley
Turns out, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year comes with additional perks. Though reports on the official number aren’t widely available, it’s rumored that he’ll make roughly $269 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Oh, and his signing bonus is $45 million!
