Chasing the Max: The Richest Contracts In NBA History

The NBA is littered with stars who will often see their talents rewarded with lucrative contracts. Every year, players are signing bigger deals than ever before. So here is a list of the richest contracts in NBA history. Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum signed the richest contract in NBA history when he put pen to paper on a five-year, $314 million contract extension in 2024. Tatum's teammate, Jalen Brown, previously held the record when he signed a five-year, $304 million Supermax deal a year prior. Denver Nuggets star and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic pledged his long-term future with the franchise in 2022 with a five-year, $276 million contract. After winning MVP and Finals MVP in 2024-25, the Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million extension, which holds a record average annual value of $71.35 million. Detroit Pistons star and 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham signed a five-year, $269 million Rookie Max extension in 2024 That same summer, the No. 2 pick in the same draft, Evan Mobley, agreed to a similar deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers