NBA players are the best paid athletes in American team sports, and the gap keeps growing. The average NBA salary in the 2025-26 season is 13.2 million dollars, up from 12.3 million the year before and 11 million two years before that. That is the steepest four year climb in league history, driven by a new media rights deal worth 76 billion dollars over 11 years.
This guide breaks down what NBA players actually make, from the supermax stars to the rookies, and why salaries keep rising.
The average NBA salary in 2026
The average NBA player earns 13.2 million dollars in the 2025-26 season. The median is lower, because a small group of stars pulls the average up, but even the middle of the roster is paid extraordinarily well by any normal standard.
Average salary by position shows where the money concentrates:
| Position | Average salary 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| Point guard | 16.4 million dollars |
| Power forward | 15.3 million dollars |
| Small forward | 13.9 million dollars |
| Shooting guard | 9.9 million dollars |
Point guards became the best paid position around 2020, and the gap has widened since. The era of the ball dominant, max contract point guard reshaped the salary landscape.
The highest paid NBA players in 2025-26
| Player | Team | 2025-26 salary |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 59.6 million dollars |
| Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | 55.2 million dollars |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 55.2 million dollars |
| Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 54.7 million dollars |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 54.1 million dollars |
| Jimmy Butler | Golden State Warriors | 54.1 million dollars |
| Anthony Davis | Dallas Mavericks | 54.1 million dollars |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | 54.1 million dollars |
Stephen Curry’s 59.6 million dollar salary works out to 726,912 dollars per game, 22,027 dollars per minute of playing time, and 367 dollars per second across an 82 game schedule. Next season he becomes the first NBA player ever to cross 60 million dollars in a single season, with a 62.6 million dollar extension.
On average annual value, the leader is different: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s new deal leads the league at 68.1 million dollars per year, with Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid all above 60 million. Jokic, notably, is not in the top eight by average annual value, because he declined an extension in the 2025 offseason and can earn roughly 80 million dollars more by waiting until the 2026 offseason to sign.
Salary versus total earnings
Playing salary is only part of the picture. Forbes’ 2025 list of top paid NBA players counts endorsements and business income too. Stephen Curry leads with an estimated 159.6 million dollars in total pretax earnings, followed by LeBron James at 137.6 million and Kevin Durant at 104.3 million. The league’s ten top earners were in line for 902 million dollars combined before taxes and agent fees, a 15 percent increase over the previous year’s record.
LeBron James illustrates the split: his playing contract pays 52.6 million dollars, and endorsements plus business ventures add roughly 85 million more.
Why NBA salaries keep rising
NBA salaries are tied to basketball related income, and the league’s new media deal nearly triples the previous one, from 2.6 billion dollars a year to about 6.9 billion a year. Players receive roughly half of basketball related income under the collective bargaining agreement, so a tripling of media money flows directly into the salary cap and into contracts.
The supermax extension is the other engine. Veterans who meet milestones such as MVP awards, Defensive Player of the Year, or All-NBA honors can sign extensions worth up to 35 percent of the salary cap. That is how a single player reaches 60 million dollars a year while the average sits at 13.2 million.
What about rookies and minimum players
Even the bottom of an NBA roster is lucrative. Rookie scale contracts and veteran minimum deals pay several hundred thousand to several million dollars, depending on experience. A player on a two way contract earns less, but the gap between the NBA minimum and a normal professional salary is enormous. That is why making an NBA roster at all, even for one season, is life changing money.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the average NBA player make?
13.2 million dollars in the 2025-26 season, up from 12.3 million in 2024-25.
Who is the highest paid NBA player?
Stephen Curry at 59.6 million dollars in salary for 2025-26. On total earnings including endorsements, Curry also leads at an estimated 159.6 million dollars.
Who will be the first 60 million dollar NBA player?
Stephen Curry, next season, with a 62.6 million dollar extension that makes him the first player in league history above 60 million in a single season.
Why are point guards paid the most?
The modern game runs through ball dominant point guards who create offense for the whole team. Point guards average 16.4 million dollars, well ahead of every other position.
