For the 2025‑26 NBA season, Stephen Curry is the highest-paid NBA player. His base salary is $59,606,817 with the Golden State Warriors. This figure reflects the league’s rising salary cap and the value of elite stars. In addition, Curry’s contract signals a new era where NBA salaries now routinely exceed $50 million per year. This article breaks down the highest-paid NBA players of 2025–26, the top 10 earners, the highest-paid NBA player by team, and the financial forces shaping the league’s economics.
Highest Paid NBA Player 2025‑26: Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the highest-paid NBA player for the 2025‑26 season. His salary makes him both the most expensive cap‑sheet name and the league’s top brand. With Golden State, Curry earns $59,606,817 in base pay. That is the highest single‑season NBA salary in league history.
Moreover, this deal builds on previous Max-friendly extensions. Curry recently signed a one‑year, $62.6 million pact that keeps him in Golden State through 2026‑27. Because of the agreement, his 2025‑26 figure edges ahead of rivals like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić. At the same time, it sets a psychological benchmark for other stars.
Highest NBA Salaries Overview 2025‑26
The 2025‑26 season sees the NBA salary cap rise to roughly $154.6 million. This increase comes from about 10% year‑on‑year growth tied to new TV and media deals. As a result, the league’s top salaries now sit in the $50M–$60M range.
In particular, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, and Jayson Tatum all earn over $50 million in base salary. These figures do not include playoffs, incentives, or endorsements. For that reason, they reflect only NBA‑level cash.
LeBron James, for instance, makes about $52.6 million with the Lakers. That salary ranks 14th among NBA players. However, when we factor in endorsements, LeBron emerges as the league’s highest-paid player in total earnings. This distinction matters: “highest‑paid NBA player by salary” is different from “highest‑paid NBA player overall.”
Top 10 Highest‑Paid NBA Players 2025‑26
Beyond Curry, the 2025‑26 wage hierarchy is tightly packed. The table below lists the top 10 highest‑paid NBA players by base salary for the 2025‑26 season. Data comes from ESPN, Hoops Rumors, and other major salary trackers.
| Rank | Player | Team | Salary (2025-26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | $59,606,817 |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | $55,224,526 |
| 2 | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets | $55,224,526 |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | $54,708,609 |
| 5 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | $54,126,450 |
| 5 | Luka Dončić | Dallas Mavericks | $54,126,450 |
| 5 | Jimmy Butler | Golden State Warriors | $54,126,450 |
| 5 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | $54,126,450 |
| 5 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | $54,126,450 |
| 10 | Bradley Beal | LA Clippers | $53,666,270 |
Together, this group accounts for over $546 million in base salary. It’s obvious that the league’s cap landscape is now dominated by a small group of stars. Meanwhile, Curry’s lead comes from a four‑year, $276 million extension. That deal made him the first NBA player to cross the $40M, $50M, and soon‑to‑be‑$60M per‑season thresholds.
Highest‑Paid NBA Players by Team (2025‑26)
Every NBA franchise has a cap sheet leader. This is the highest-paid NBA player per team for 2025–26. Each of these players anchors roster construction, trade strategy, and luxury tax decisions. The list below shows the highest‑paid player on each of the 30 teams, based on 2025‑26 base salaries.
| Team | Highest-Paid Player | Salary (2025-26) |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Trae Young | $45,997,800 |
| Boston Celtics | Jayson Tatum | $54,126,450 |
| Brooklyn Nets | Michael Porter Jr. | $38,333,050 |
| Charlotte Hornets | LaMelo Ball | $37,958,760 |
| Chicago Bulls | [top earner, TBD]* | ~$30M–$40M |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Donovan Mitchell / Evan Mobley | $46,394,100 |
| Dallas Mavericks | Luka Dončić | $54,126,450 |
| Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić | $55,224,526 |
| Detroit Pistons | Cade Cunningham | $46,394,100 |
| Golden State Warriors | Stephen Curry | $59,606,817 |
| Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant | $54,708,609 |
| Indiana Pacers | Pascal Siakam | $45,550,512 |
| LA Clippers | Bradley Beal | $53,666,270 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | LeBron James | $52,627,153 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Ja Morant | $39,446,090 |
| Miami Heat | Bam Adebayo | $37,096,620 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Giannis Antetokounmpo | $54,126,450 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Anthony Edwards | $45,550,512 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Zion Williamson | $39,446,090 |
| New York Knicks | Karl-Anthony Towns | $53,142,264 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | $38,333,050 |
| Orlando Magic | Franz Wagner | $38,661,750 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Joel Embiid | $55,224,526 |
| Phoenix Suns | Devin Booker | $53,142,264 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Jrue Holiday | $32,400,000 |
| Sacramento Kings | Zach LaVine | $47,499,660 |
| San Antonio Spurs | De’Aaron Fox | $37,096,620 |
| Toronto Raptors | Scottie Barnes | $38,661,750 |
| Utah Jazz | Lauri Markkanen | $46,394,100 |
| Washington Wizards | Khris Middleton | $33,296,296 |
Note: Chicago’s 2025‑26 top earner can be updated once the final cap table is published. All figures are base salaries only and exclude incentives, bonuses, and endorsement income.
Team‑by‑Team Salary Insights
High‑payroll contenders like the Warriors, Nuggets, 76ers, Lakers, and Celtics rely on $50M+ stars. These players give their teams elite firepower but also create luxury tax exposure. In Golden State, for example, Curry and Butler form a dual‑max core. That pushes the team above the first cap apron and forces aggressive trade‑deadline moves.
In contrast, rebuilding franchises such as the Spurs, Thunder, and Pistons focus on younger talent. These teams usually have lower‑to‑mid‑tier salaries, which increases cap flexibility. At the same time, young stars like Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and Franz Wagner already earn near‑max money. Thus, the NBA’s “big-money” group is likely to grow in the next few seasons.
LeBron, Curry, and Durant: Salary vs. Total Earnings
Many articles blur the line between salary and total earnings. That is why it is important to clarify the difference. Stephen Curry earns the highest NBA salary in 2025–26 at $59.6 million. However, when we factor in endorsements, LeBron James’s total income surpasses that of Stephen Curry.
Multiple financial reports and earnings analyses place LeBron’s 2025‑26 total income at roughly $132M–$137M, with about $80M–$85M coming from brand partnerships. In contrast, Curry’s total earnings are estimated at $100M–$110M, and Durant’s total haul clears about $100M or more.
In short, Curry is the highest-paid NBA player by salary. But LeBron remains the highest-paid NBA player in total earnings. This nuance helps your page win both “Curry salary” and “LeBron total earnings” searches.
Factors Driving NBA Salaries in 2025‑26
Several forces are pushing NBA salaries higher. First, the salary cap for 2025‑26 stands at about $154.6 million. This is a 10% rise from the prior year, linked to new TV and media deals. Because of that, teams can pay more to top stars.
Second, supermax and max‑eligible contracts remain central. Players like Curry, Giannis, Tatum, Jokić, and Durant qualify for maximum‑eligible deals. These often lock in 5‑year, $250M+ contracts. Therefore, cap space concentrates on a small group of stars.
Third, luxury tax and cap‑apron rules shape team strategy. The first apron sits around $195.9 million. This heavily limits mid-level exceptions and pushes contenders to front-load value on their top earners. Meanwhile, off‑court income now matches or exceeds on‑court pay for stars like Curry, James, and Durant. As a result, endorsement leverage adds pressure to raise salaries.
Future of NBA Wages Beyond 2025‑26
Looking ahead, the 2026‑27 salary cap is expected to rise again. Projections suggest Curry could earn over $62 million in the near future. In addition, stars like Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander may reach $60M–$70M by the late 2020s.
Media rights deals, international expansion, and fan analytics will continue to inflate superstar value. Over time, these factors will widen the gap between max‑payer cores and role players. For front offices and fans, the 2025‑26 wage structure is a snapshot of a league where the highest‑paid NBA player is more than just a star. Curry, Embiid, Jokić, and others are now financial anchors for their franchises. As NBA economics evolves, this list of the highest-paid NBA players (2025–26) will serve as the baseline for the next decade of superstar contracts and team-building strategies.
