- We are living in an era of elite wings who challenge for major awards
- The small forward position is consistent when it comes to being an all-around player
- Nine straight small forwards won Finals MVP from 2012 until 2020
The NBA’s 2023-24 season brings forth a roster of small forwards who not only command the court with their on-court prowess but also dominate the financial scene with lucrative contracts. This comprehensive article delves into the realm of professional basketball economics by spotlighting the 10 highest-paid small forwards of the season.
- Honorable Mentions
- Cameron Johnson – $24,456,522
- DeMar DeRozan – $28,600,000
- 10. Khris Middleton – $28,703,704
- 9. Gordon Hayward – $31,500,000
- 8. Jayson Tatum – $32,600,060
- 7. Michael Porter Jr – $33,386,850
- 6. Brandon Ingram – $33,833,400
- 5. Tobias Harris – $39,270,150
- 4. Klay Thompson – $43,219,440
- 3. Jimmy Butler – $45,183,960
- 2. Kawhi Leonard – $45,640,084
- 1. LeBron James – $47,607,350
Small forwards are still required to score, play defense, and bring all-around skills to the game but it might be the most important position right now. We have seen ten small forwards capture the Finals MVP award from the 2007-08 campaign because a mix of size and skill is hard to come by in professional basketball.
After seeing the highest-paid shooting guards in the NBA, it is time to focus on the highest-paid small forwards across the league. While some of these players are not quite superstars, the others are deserving of their money as they are at the very top of the league in impact. Here are the 10 highest-paid small forwards in the NBA for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Honorable Mentions
Cameron Johnson – $24,456,522
2022-23 Stats: 15.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Cameron Johnson is not an All-Star but is getting paid like one. That is no knock against him because he has an above-average jumper and has the size to be an impact player going forward for the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets. This past season, Johnson averaged 15.5 points on over 40% shooting from three.
As long as Johnson can space the floor, run on the break, and continue to improve on defense, he will be worth the money he will be paid. Johnson won’t settle with his game right now because at 27 years old, the time to improve is now. Hopefully, he can start making a claim for the All-Star game.
DeMar DeRozan – $28,600,000
2022-23 Stats: 24.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Still one of the best mid-range and isolation scorers in the world, DeMar DeRozan is getting the big bucks because he continues to be the best player on the Chicago Bulls. Last season, DeMar made his 6th All-Star Team selection because he was tough to slow down in isolation situations.
Going forward, DeRozan will likely continue making max money because, at 34 years old, he has at least three seasons left at a star level. While DeRozan will never be good enough to win a ring as the best player on a team, he can do enough to average at least 20 points per game in his sleep.
10. Khris Middleton – $28,703,704
2022-23 Stats: 15.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Khris Middleton missed significant time this past season, only appearing in 33 games for the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company certainly missed him because as a go-to scorer and perimeter lockdown defender, there are very few players better than Middleton in the NBA right now.
Middleton will be paid over $28 million in 2024, and considering he was the sidekick to Giannis during the 2021 championship season, he deserves it. Khris must return back to his All-Star form to justify the money he’s getting paid and that means posting at least 20 points per game on over 37% from the three-point line.
9. Gordon Hayward – $31,500,000
2022-23 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
It is shocking that Gordon Hayward continues to make such a ridiculous amount of money despite his declining skills and increasing age. Hayward is 33 years old but his body is that of a player at least three years older but still, Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets signed him to max dollars in the 2020 free agency period.
Hayward only posted 14.7 points per game last season while appearing in 50 games. It remains to be seen what happens with Hayward because the Charlotte Hornets probably don’t want to hold onto the swingman for the long term. Even so, Hayward is taking home over $30 million next year.
8. Jayson Tatum – $32,600,060
2022-23 Stats: 30.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Jayson Tatum might be a top-five player in the world as the leader of the Boston Celtics. One of the best offensive players in the world and a 25-year-old star, Tatum can literally demand supermax money for the next decade and the Celtics have to abide. Luckily for Tatum, he will be making more money going forward.Â
In 2024, a salary of $32.6 million means he will be the 8th highest-paid small forward as he shares the frontcourt with Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.
Tatum cannot only score the ball at an elite level but actually be the best player on a championship team as he showed in the 2021-22 season when the Celtics made the NBA Finals. Last year, the Celtics almost made the Finals again if not for the Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
7. Michael Porter Jr – $33,386,850
2022-23 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
The Denver Nuggets clearly knew what they were doing when they decided to give Michael Porter Jr. max dollars. Somehow, the talented swingman fell down to the No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft due to concerns about his back. The Nuggets did not hesitate to take him and what a move that was.
Porter Jr. helped the Nuggets reach another level in contending for the NBA championship and was arguably the third-best player on the team in terms of shot creation and sharpshooting. Porter Jr. posted 17.4 PPG last season and even if he struggled a bit from deep in the playoffs, his presence made Denver a massive threat on offense.
6. Brandon Ingram – $33,833,400
2022-23 Stats: 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Out of all the young players in the NBA under the age of 26, Brandon Ingram is one of the few who hasn’t yet come close to his potential. Ingram is similar to Kevin Durant in terms of offensive skill set and playmaking but tends to have inconsistencies when it comes to being the go-to player for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Even in the Olympics, Brandon Ingram has been honest with how he has struggled individually. These inconsistencies need to end because it is holding the player back from achieving true greatness. The 2020 All-Star still had a great season last year, and at 25 years old, the sky is still the limit for the seventh-highest-paid small forward in the game.
5. Tobias Harris – $39,270,150
2022-23 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Somehow, Tobias Harris is the fifth highest-paid small forward in the NBA heading into next season. Clearly the most overpaid player in the league right now, Harris is a solid starter for the Philadelphia 76ers but isn’t exactly worth the money he is getting paid. That is why the Sixers have been trying to trade him for the past couple of years.
That isn’t Harris’ fault because he is doing his best to perform. As the third or possibly fourth option behind Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey in 2023, the swingman averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds on 38.9% from three. Even if Harris feels he is being disrespected, he is good enough to start in the NBA and he will be making close to $40 million next year regardless.
4. Klay Thompson – $43,219,440
2022-23 Stats: 21.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Klay Thompson is getting paid a tremendous amount of money and that is why the Golden State Warriors are trying to bring him back on a discount. Klay is no longer the bonafide and All-NBA two-way player he used to be a few seasons ago, and he might not be worth the money he is getting paid.Â
However, Thompson’s sheer presence on the court makes the Warriors a much better team because running after Stephen Curry and not leaving Thompson means the offense runs as smoothly as possible. The Splash Brother is a legend in Golden State and while he is making over $43 million in 2023-24, that might be the last time max money is entering his bank account.Â
3. Jimmy Butler – $45,183,960
2022-23 Stats: 22.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Jimmy Butler is easily a top-5 small forward in the game when healthy and playing at his best because he turns into a legitimate machine in the playoffs. Due to Butler’s brilliance in recent seasons, Miami has made the NBA Finals twice despite having an underdog roster. To his credit, Butler had always performed.
Even if Jimmy is considered an All-Star in the regular season, turning into a superstar in the playoffs and setting an example for the rest of the players is why he is getting paid max dollars. As we approach the 2024 season, Butler is hoping that Miami can add a superstar to compete for the championship.
2. Kawhi Leonard – $45,640,084
2022-23 Stats: 23.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Kawhi Leonard has not been healthy since arriving in Los Angeles playing under 60 games for four straight seasons. Without Leonard healthy, the Clippers have had zero chance of making an NBA Finals let alone winning a championship. When he’s healthy, however, Leonard is a bonafide superstar.
Kawhi appeared in only 52 games last year yet posted 23.8 points per game. Leonard’s defense seems to have slightly deteriorated in recent seasons because of the countless injuries he has faced, but if he can stay healthy, there is no doubt the former two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner deserves over $45 million.
1. LeBron James – $47,607,350
2022-23 Stats: 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
LeBron James will suit up as the starting small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers next season and that will mean he is the highest-paid at his position. The King is still the best in the world at his position and as long as he doesn’t somehow decline considerably, no small forward will impact the game as much as he does.
Far more than the impact on the court, LeBron James is literally a money-making machine for the Lakers. He sells out seats in the stadium, jerseys off the court, and brings a ton of media attention that is needed for business purposes. Even if the attention sometimes negatively affects the production of the team, there is no doubt that LeBron is still the face of the league and that won’t change until he rides off into the sunset.
