Every NBA Team Payroll in 2026

• Highest paid player: Karl-Anthony Towns - $53.1 million

The Knicks are playing for the NBA Finals for the first time in three decades thanks to some shrewd front-office moves.

3. Golden State Warriors - $204.7 Million

• Highest paid player: Stephen Curry - $59.6 million

The dynasty may be over, but Curry and Co. don’t look quite finished yet and the Warriors are still spending.

4. Los Angeles Lakers - $195.3 Million

• Highest paid player: LeBron James - $52.6 million

The bang-for-buck is there with James and Luka Doncic. Does LBJ have another run to the Finals in him before he’s finished?

5. Houston Rockets - $194.7 Million

• Highest paid player: Kevin Durant - $54.7 million

You almost have to feel for Durant, whose may be one of the best ever on the court, but still draws "overrated" comments thanks to a large lack of postseason success.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves - $193.5 Million

• Highest paid player: Anthony Edwards - $45.5 million

The Timberwolves are trending upward, too, with Edwards and a young roster filled with especially solid frontcourt players.

7. Philadelphia 76ers - $193.4 Million

• Highest paid player: Joel Embiid - $55.2 million

Philly has made the Eastern Conference semifinals six times in the last nine seasons, but no further. 

8. Los Angeles Clippers - $190.1 Million

• Highest paid player: Kawhi Leonard - $50 million

The Clippers’ best players are long-time veterans. They may need a youth movement soon.

9. Boston Celtics - $189.5 Million

• Highest paid player: Jayson Tatum - $54.1 million

Still one of the best teams in the NBA, Boston is sitting pretty in the league’s hierarchy.

10. Indiana Pacers - $188.7 Million

• Highest paid player: Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam - $45.6 million

From the NBA Finals in 2025 to 19 wins in 2026. Who knows what’s next in Indiana.

11. New Orleans Pelicans - $187.6 Million

• Highest paid player: Zion Williamson - $39.4 million

Williamson will almost certainly never live up to his pre-draft hype and the Pelicans feel stuck in neutral with him as the centerpiece.

12. Orlando Magic - $187.3 Million

• Highest paid player: Franz Wagner - $38.7 million

The Magic have finished first or second in the division each of the last three years, but three straight first-round exits stings.

13. Portland Trail Blazers - $187.2 Million

• Highest paid player: Jrue Holiday - $32.4 million

Portland has bigger money problems than payroll, apparently. But, hey, the Blazers made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

14. Toronto Raptors - $186.8 Million

• Highest paid player: Scottie Barnes - $38.7 million

After a half-decade of down times, the Raptors seem to be coming back, though they’re not near that late 2010s run just yet.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder - $186.7 Million

• Highest paid player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: $38.3 million

The Thunder went from the darlings of the NBA to perhaps its most loathed team in just about a year. But they don’t seem to be falling from near the top of the standings soon, anyway.

16. Denver Nuggets - $186.7 Million

• Highest paid player: Nikola Jokic - $55 million

The Nuggets have made eight straight postseasons and won the Finals back in 2023, but this year’s first-round loss served as a disappointment.

17. Atlanta Hawks - $186.5 Million

• Highest paid player: CJ McCollum - $30.7 million

Atlanta received more from its roster than it would have looked like on paper before the season started. The question is whether it can continue another year.

18. Miami Heat - $186.4 Million

• Highest paid player: Bam Adebayo - $37.1 million

The Heat have missed the playoffs just four times in coach Erik Spoelstra’s 18 years. But they haven’t made it further than the first round since making the Finals in 2023.

19. Phoenix Suns - $186.2 Million

• Highest paid player: Devin Booker - $53.1 million

With Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks on the roster, Phoenix certainly has a reputation. But Booker still has the goods to get the team to the playoffs.

20. Sacramento Kings - $186.2 Million

• Highest paid player: Zach LaVine - $47.5 million

Sacramento has made the playoffs once since 2006 and won just 22 games this year, the second fewest since 1960.

21. Detroit Pistons - $186 Million

• Highest paid player: Cade Cunningham - $46.4 million

Cunningham delivered in 2025-26, leading the Pistons to their first division title since 2008. They should be solid for a while.

22. San Antonio Spurs - $183 Million

• Highest paid player: De’Aaron Fox - $37.1 million

Speaking of solid for a while, the Spurs have exceeded their timetable and reached the NBA Finals in Victor Wembanyama's third season.

23. Chicago Bulls - $182.8 Million

• Highest paid player: Anfernee Simons - $27.7 million

With just one playoff appearance since 2017, the Bulls look directionless and 2026 leaves questions.

24. Washington Wizards - $182.5 Million

• Highest paid player: Anthony Davis - $54.1 million

The Wizards have finished last in the division each of the last three seasons. With Davis and Trae Young, they would have been a great team five years ago…if the team had them then.

25. Dallas Mavericks - $182.5 Million

• Highest paid player: Kyrie Irving - $36.6 million

Dallas is still digging out of a hole with its own fans after trading Doncic. Cooper Flagg could be special, at least.

26. Charlotte Hornets - $182.4 Million

• Highest paid player: LaMelo Ball - $38 million

The Hornets haven’t been to the playoffs in a decade. In other words, this version of the Hornets has made it just once since changing from the Bobcats.

27. Milwaukee Bucks - $181.3 Million

• Highest paid player: Giannis Antetokounmpo - $54.1 million

Milwaukee missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but, when healthy, Antetokounmpo remains one of the NBA’s best. Whether the roster around him is good enough remains another story.

28. Utah Jazz - $172.6 Million

• Highest paid player: Lauri Markkanen - $46.4 million

Danny Ainge has a storied history as an executive but the Jazz have been one of the NBA’s worst teams in his five-year stint.

29. Memphis Grizzlies - $156.5 Million

• Highest paid player: Ja Morant - $39.4 million

Thirty-three different players suited up for the Grizzlies in what was an absolute mess of a season.

30. Brooklyn Nets - $154.7 Million

• Highest paid player: Michael Porter Jr. - $38.3 million

Porter is a solid player, but it’s easy to see how the Nets won just 20 games this season.