Nikola Jokic reached the NBA mountaintop in 2023 by delivering the Denver Nuggets their first championship.
Now, the two-time NBA MVP will enter his title defense season as the league's highest-paid player.
Jokic boasts the highest average annual salary heading into the 2023-24 campaign at $55.2 million. He will be playing out the first season of a five-year, $276 million extension he signed in 2022.
The 2023 Finals MVP's average salary is roughly $1.4 million higher than Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who sits behind Jokic with an average salary of $53.8 million. Curry was the NBA's highest-paid player last season before being leapfrogged by the Joker, though the four-time NBA champ still has the highest total salary figure for 2023-24 at $51.9 million.
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Philadelphia 76ers reigning MVP Joel Embiid ($53.3 million), new Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal ($50.2 million) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James ($49.5 million) round out the top five.
Who are the NBA's highest-paid players?
Here's a look at the NBA's 30 highest-paid players in terms of average salary for the 2023-2024 season, per Spotrac:
1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: $55,224,526
2. Steph Curry, Warriors: $53,838,416
3. Joel Embiid, 76ers: $53,320,232
4. Bradley Beal, Suns: $50,203,930
5. LeBron James, Lakers: $49,511,644
6. Jimmy Butler, Heat: $48,798,677
7. Kevin Durant, Suns: $48,554,830
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: $45,640,084
9. Paul George, Clippers: $44,066,367
T-10. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: $44,066,288
T-10. Damian Lillard, Bucks: $44,066,288
T-12. Luka Doncic, Mavericks: $43,031,940
T-12. Zach LaVine, Bulls: $43,031,940
T-12. Trae Young, Hawks: $43,031,940
15. Fred VanVleet, Rockets: $42,846,615
16. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: $41,000,000
17. Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: $40,000,000
T-18. Darius Garland, Cavaliers: $39,446,090
T-18. Ja Morant, Grizzlies: $39,446,090
T-18. Zion Williamson, Pelicans: $39,446,090
T-21. Anthony Davis, Lakers: $37,980,720
T-21. Klay Thompson, Warriors: $37,980,720
23. Tobias Harris, 76ers: $36,000,000
T-24. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: $35,859,950
T-24. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets: $35,859,950
26. Ben Simmons, Nets: $35,448,672
27. James Harden, Clippers: $34,320,000
28. Pascal Siakam, Raptors: $34,226,304
29. Jrue Holiday, Celtics: $33,749,333
30. C.J. McCollum, Pelicans: $33,333,333
Who are the NBA's highest-paid players next season?
History could be made in the 2024-25 season, as Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown is projected to become the first NBA player with an average salary of $60 million. After landing the richest deal in league history at five years, $304 million, Brown is on track to boast an average salary of $60.7 million.
Meanwhile, several players from the 2020 draft class -- like Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball -- signed lucrative extensions this offseason, meaning they will be among the highest-paid players in the league beginning next season.
Other stars also have extensions kicking in that will catapult them to the top of the list.
Here's a look at the projected list of the highest-paid players in terms of average salary for the 2024-2025 season, per Spotrac.
1. Jaylen Brown, Celtics: $60,746,979
T-2. Devin Booker, Suns: $55,664,000
T-2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves: $55,664,000
4. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: $55,224,526
5. Steph Curry, Warriors: $53,838,416
6. Joel Embiid, 76ers: $53,320,232
7. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: $50,800,000
8. Bradley Beal, Suns: $50,203,930
9. LeBron James, Lakers: $49,511,644
10. Jimmy Butler, Heat: $48,798,677
11. Kevin Durant, Suns: $48,554,830
12. Domantas Sabonis, Kings: $46,504,000
13. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: $45,640,084
14. Paul George, Clippers: $44,066,367
15. Damian Lillard, Bucks: $44,066,288
T-16. Luka Doncic, Mavericks: $43,031,940
T-16. Zach LaVine, Bulls: $43,031,940
T-16. Trae Young, Hawks: $43,031,940
19. Fred VanVleet, Rockets: $42,846,615
T-20. LaMelo Ball, Hornets: $41,180,000
T-20. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: $41,180,000
T-20. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: $41,180,000
23. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: $41,000,000
24. Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: $40,000,000
T-25. Desmond Bane, Grizzlies: $39,446,090
T-25. Darius Garland, Cavaliers: $39,446,090
T-25. Ja Morant, Grizzlies: $39,446,090
T-25. Zion Williamson, Pelicans: $39,446,090
29. Anthony Davis, Lakers: $37,980,720
T-30. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: $35,859,950
T-30. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets: $35,859,950
