Highest-Paid NBA Players For 2020-2021 Season After Free Agency

As teams hand out massive contracts during the truncated 2020 NBA offseason, a look at the league’s highest-paid players shows just how risky these deals can be. Half of the stars with the largest salaries barely played, if they played at all, last season, and others probably aren’t worth what they’re about to make.

Gordon Hayward was the biggest winner of free agency, inking a four-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Fred VanVleet received $85 million over four years to stay with the Toronto Raptors. Jerami Grant and Danilo Gallinari both earned $60 million apiece as free agents.

They highlighted a weak free-agent class, which featured borderline All-Stars and good role players. Ten players will have a salary north of $35 million in the upcoming season.

Here’s a look at the 10 highest-paid players for the 2020-2021 NBA season, according to Spotrac.

1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: $43,006,362

Curry earned his spot as the NBA’s highest-paid player with consecutive MVP awards in 2015 and 2016 while leading Golden State to five straight NBA Finals. Last season was the worst of Curry’s career as he only played five games because of a broken hand, and the Warriors finished with the league’s worst record.

2) Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns: $41,358,814

Considered to have one of the NBA’s worst contracts prior to last season, Paul proved his doubters wrong by finishing seventh in the 2020 MVP race. The 35-year-old was so good that the Suns sent the Oklahoma City Thunder a couple of quality players and a first-round pick in a trade for Paul this offseason.

3) Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets: $41,358,814

Westbrook remains a very productive player, but another early playoff exit has other teams wary of taking on his contract. There doesn’t appear to be much of a trade market for the point guard, who reportedly wants out after one year in Houston.

4) James Harden, Houston Rockets: $41,254,920

The Rockets shouldn't have any trouble getting a haul if they decide to pull the trigger on a rumored Harden trade. One of the best offensive players in NBA history, Harden has won three straight scoring titles and posted five top-three MVP finishes.

5) John Wall, Washington Wizards: $41,254,920

The three years and $130.5 million left on Wall’s contract make him the league’s most difficult player to trade. The veteran hasn’t played a game in two years because of a heel injury and a ruptured Achilles.

6) LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers: $39,219,565

Even at nearly $40 million a year, James is still underpaid. James has been the world’s best player for at least a decade, and he didn’t show any signs of slowing down with his fourth NBA Finals MVP award in the league’s Disney bubble.

7) Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets: $39,058,950

Nets fans are waiting with bated breath to see how Durant looks in a Brooklyn uniform. The two-time Finals MVP missed his first season with the Nets because of a torn Achilles.

8) Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons: $36,595,996

Griffin is yet another superstar who’s signed to a massive contract and has had his career derailed by injuries. The six-time All-Star was an All-NBA Third Team selection as recently as 2019, but Griffin has missed 34% of his team’s games over the last six years.

9) Los Angeles Clippers, Paul George: $35,450,412

A borderline top-10 NBA player, George had a disappointing first season with the Clippers. The veteran only played 48 regular-season games because of injuries, and he shot 4-16 from the field as LA was eliminated in Game 7 of its second-round playoff series.

10) Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors: $35,361,360

Thompson is in the second year of a five-year, $190 million max contract, and he continues to be paid to watch Golden State from the bench. The sharpshooter will miss his second straight full season, this time because of a torn Achilles.