NBA Players With $200 Million Contract

Thanks to its massive TV deal with ESPN and Turner Sports worth billions, the NBA has steadily increased its salary cap since 2016 has allowed the league to increase the players’ salaries. This was made possible by the latest collective bargaining agreement, which dates back to the 2017-18 season.

The agreement also motivated the teams to offer enormous amounts of contracts to its superstars to stay with the franchise in the long run to improve their NBA championship odds and possibly win a title in the process. However, certain superstars passed the $200 million mark and received record-breaking deals that were rare in basketball odds.

Here’s a list of the six NBA players with a $200 million contract.

Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

After helping the Golden State Warriors’ title run in 2015 and 2017, Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history with a $200 million contract after signing a four-year deal worth $201 million in 2017. His back-to-back MVP honors in 2015 and 2016 were also a big factor in netting the record-breaking deal.

In August 2021, Curry signed another $215 million extension to allow him to play for the Warriors until the 2025-26 season and remain the franchise’s biggest star. This is another milestone for the three-point king, making the first NBA player to sign two $200 million contracts.

Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder

After his historic and MVP season in the 2016-17 season, Russell Westbrook earned a $205 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder to stay with the team until 2022-23. Westbrook averaged a triple-double during the season and had 42 triple-doubles in the regular season to eclipse the previous record.

Since the start of that $200 million contract in the 2018-19 season, he only played one season with the team and has suited up for three different teams – Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee’s in-house superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo reached a deal with the franchise in December 2020 and inked a $228 million contract for five years. The 2019 and 2020 NBA MVP has helped the Bucks contend since the 2018-19 season.

The max contract immediately paid the reward as Antetokounmpo spearheaded the team’s title run in the 2020-21 season and captured its first title in 50 years by beating the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals, 4-2. The ‘’Greek Freak’’ capped off the finals with a 50-point performance in Game 6 and ultimately won the Finals MVP.

Rudy Gobert – Utah Jazz

Drafted as the 27th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Rudy Gobert was immediately traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the 46th pick and additional cash. His ascent as Utah’s defensive anchor in the middle was gradual, and his two Defensive Player of the Year awards and one NBA All-Star appearance were enough to earn him a $205 million contract.

The deal was the most significant amount that a center in the NBA has ever received and has tied Gobert with Utah for the next five seasons. Before signing the deal, the Frenchman was averaging 15.9 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

Luka Doncic – Dallas Mavericks

After Dirk Nowitzki retired, the Dallas Mavericks found a new superstar in the form of Luka Doncic. As the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Dallas made the trade to acquire him and sent Trae Young, their fifth pick to Atlanta.

Doncic went on to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2019 and became an NBA All-Star in 2019 and 2020, which prompted Dallas to lock him in with the team by offering a five-year, $207 million contract rookie supermax extension in August 2021. The extension will begin in the 2022-23 season and end in 2027.

Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young also got the bag and received a rookie supermax extension worth $207 million with the Atlanta Hawks after averaging 24.6 points, 8.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds during his first three seasons with the team. He also led them to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 before getting eliminated by Milwaukee in six games.

The 6-foot-1 point guard also became an all-star in 2019 and had similar contract details with Doncic as both of their extensions will take effect beginning from the 2022-23 season and will end in 2027. Young also made the most of his first taste of postseason action by chalking up an impressive number of 288 points, 9.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 16 playoff games.