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Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Top 5 most expensive NBA contracts of all-time

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Anjum Ash. | Last updated Jan 24, 2024 1:34 PM ET

The NBA is home to the best basketball players on the planet. Over the years, the stellar contracts and salaries of NBA stars have made the league one of the most expensive in the sporting world.

The NBA salary cap has broadened over time, and so have the player salaries. From Stephen Curry to Nikola Jokic, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to LeBron James, NBA stars have been offered some fantastic contracts throughout the years.

So who are the players with the most valuable NBA contracts, and how much do they earn? Here are the five most expensive NBA contracts in league history.

#5 Karl-Anthony Town: $224.2 Million

The Minnesota Timberwolves Center signed a 4-year / $224,224,000 contract with the franchise that comes into effect from the 2024-25 season and lasts up until the end of the 2027-28 season.

It is one of the most expensive contracts in NBA history, with an average salary of $56,056,000 per annum. Karl-Anthony Towns’ Designated Veteran Player Extension comes with $224,224,000 guaranteed at signing and has a player option for the 2027-28 season. He will become an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2028.

CONTRACT	AVG. SALARY	GTD AT SIGN	SIGNED USING	FREE AGENT
4 yr(s) / $224,224,000	$56,056,000	$224,224,000	Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird	2028 / UFA

Salary Breakdown

Annual Salary: $56,056,000
Salary Per Month: $4,671,333
Salary Per Week: $1,167,833
Salary Per Game: $683,610
Salary Per Quarter: $170,902
Salary Per Minute: $14,241

#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo: $228.2 Million

The Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a 5-year / $228,200,420 contract with the franchise in December 2020. The deal lasts from the 2021-22 season to the end of the 2025-26 season.

With an average salary of $45,640,084 per annum, Antetokounmpo’s Designated Veteran Player Extension has $228,200,420 guaranteed at signing. The contract has a player option for the 2025-26 season, and he will become an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2026.

CONTRACT	AVG. SALARY	GTD AT SIGN	SIGNED USING	FREE AGENT
5 yr(s) / $228,200,420	$45,640,084	$228,200,420	Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird	2026 / UFA

Salary Breakdown

Annual Salary: $45,640,084
Salary Per Month: $3,803,340
Salary Per Week: $950,835
Salary Per Game: $556,586
Salary Per Quarter: $139,147
Salary Per Minute: $11,596

#3 Bradley Beal: $251 Million

Former Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal signed his Maximum Extension on a 5-year / $251,019,650 deal. With $251,019,650 guaranteed at signing, the contract lasts from the 2022-23 season until 2026-27.

Now playing for the Phoenix Suns, Beal will be earning an average salary of $50,203,930 per annum, and there is a player option for him to unlock in his final season. Bradley Beal will become an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2027.

CONTRACT	AVG. SALARY	GTD AT SIGN	SIGNED USING	FREE AGENT
5 yr(s) / $251,019,650	$50,203,930	$251,019,650	Maximum / Bird	2027 / UFA

Salary Breakdown

Annual Salary: $50,203,930
Salary Per Month: $4,183,661
Salary Per Week: $1,045,915
Salary Per Game: $612,243
Salary Per Quarter: $153,060
Salary Per Minute: $12,755

#2 Nikola Jokic: $272 Million

Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic had been offered one of the most expensive NBA Supermax extension contracts in July 2022. The 5-year /$272,020,000 deal will see him continue on new terms from the 2023-24 season until 2027-28.

On a tremendous annual average salary of $54,404,000 and a guaranteed $272,020,000, Jokic will continue to dominate the courts for the Denver Nuggets. The star center has a player option for the last season of his contract, and Jokic will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2028.

CONTRACT	AVG. SALARY	GTD AT SIGN	SIGNED USING	FREE AGENT
5 yr(s) / $272,020,000	$54,404,000	$272,020,000	Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird	2028 / UFA

Salary Breakdown

Annual Salary: $54,404,000
Salary Per Month: $4,533,667
Salary Per Week: $1,133,417
Salary Per Game: $663,463
Salary Per Quarter: $165,866
Salary Per Minute: $13,822

#1 Jaylen Brown: $288 Million

Jaylen Brown’s five-year $288,260,000 extension with the Boston Celtics is by far the most expensive contract in NBA history. Brown signed the designated player veteran extension deal in July 2023, which would see the small forward continue with the franchise until the end of the 2028-29 season.

The massive contract comes into effect starting from the 2024-25 NBA season and will see Jaylen Brown pocket a lucrative sum every season. The deal came with $288,260,000 guaranteed at signing and an average annual salary of $57,652,000, with incentives that could make the deal go up to $303,734,893, per Spotrac.

Although many would argue that the Celtics small forward has underperformed since signing the lucrative contract, it remains to be seen if he can do justice to the massive paycheck in the coming season. Nevertheless, by the time his five-year contract ends, Brown will have added substantial fortune to his overall net worth.

CONTRACT	AVG. SALARY	GTD AT SIGN	SIGNED USING	FREE AGENT
5 yr(s) / $288,260,000	$57,652,000	$288,260,000	Designated Veteran Player Extension / Bird	2029 / UFA