The highest paid players NBA history season by season since 1984-85

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Chart with the highest paid players in NBA history season by season in the salary cap era: from 1984-85 to 2016-17. Clicking in the ‘Top’ section you can check the highest paid players of each NBA season with details about their salary and their respective teams, with the omission of the 1986-87 and 1989-90 seasons due to lack of accurate data.

Highest paid players NBA history season by season

Season Player Team Salary Top
2016-17 Kevin Durant Golden State $26,540,100 Top-50
2015-16 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $25,000,000 Top-50
2014-15 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $23,500,000 Top-50
2013-14 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $30,453,805 Top-50
2012-13 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $30,453,805 Top-50
2011-12 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $25,244,493 Top-50
2010-11 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $24,806,250 Top-50
2009-10 Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $23,034,375 Top-50
2008-09 Kevin Garnett Boston $24,751,934  Top-10
2007-08 Kevin Garnett Boston $23,751,934  Top-10
2006-07 Kevin Garnett Minnesota $21,000,000  Top-10
2005-06 Shaquille O’Neal Miami $20,000,000  Top-10
2004-05 Shaquille O’Neal Miami $29,464,000  Top-15
2003-04 Kevin Garnett Minnesota $28,000,000  Top-10
2002-03 Kevin Garnett Minnesota $25,200,000  Top-10
2001-02 Kevin Garnett Minnesota $22,400,000  Top-10
2000-01 Kevin Garnett Minnesota $19,600,000  Top-10
1999-00 Shaquille O’Neal LA Lakers $17,142,000  Top-10
1998-98 Patrick Ewing New York $18,500,000 Top-10
1997-98 Michael Jordan Chicago $33,140,000 Top-10
1996-97 Michael Jordan Chicago $30,140,000 Top-10
1995-96 Patrick Ewing New York $18,724,000 Top-10
1994-95 David Robinson San Antonio $7,300,000 Top-10
1993-94 David Robinson San Antonio $5,740,000 Top-10
1992-93 David Robinson San Antonio $5,720,000 Top-10
1991-92 Larry Bird Boston $7,070,000 Top-10
1990-91 Patrick Ewing New York $4,250,000 Top-10
1989-90 Patrick Ewing New York $3,250,000
1988-89 Patrick Ewing New York $2,750,000 Top-10
1987-88 Patrick Ewing New York $2,750,000 Top-10
1986-87  Magic Johnson LA Lakers  $2,500,000 *
1985-86 Magic Johnson LA Lakers $2,500,000 Top-10
1984-85 Magic Johnson LA Lakers $2,500,000 Top-10

Sources: ESPN, Spotrac, Basketball-Reference and Patricia Bender’s archive. NBA does not make their player salaries public. Magic Johnson’s salary from 1986-87 season is estimated due to lack of accurate salary data on that season.