The year 2020 will be known as the year of some very massive contracts. While there have been a ton of head-scratching contracts, some superstars signed long term deals to remain with their teams. Looking back in time, the 2020-2021 offseason included 3 of the top 6 highest contracts signed in NBA history.
Here are all the biggest contracts in NBA history, ranked until the single largest in franchise history.
10. Blake Griffin – $173M
2019-2020 Statistics: 15.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Blake Griffin was supposed to be a Los Angeles Clipper for life after he was given a massive contract extension and honored as a Clippers franchise player. Not too long after, Griffin was abruptly traded to the Detroit Pistons which effectively ended the Lob City Era in Los Angeles. Griffin, when healthy, is one of the best power forwards in the NBA and his skillset is certainly worth $173 million.
But Blake Griffin has struggled to remain healthy and his inability to play consecutive full seasons on an NBA court is worrying. Griffin can still make the All-Star Team every season when he does play and has a great all-around skill set to be a very impactful player at his position.
9. Khris Middleton – $178M
2019-2020 Statistics: 20.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 41.5% 3-PT FG
The Milwaukee Bucks gave Khris Middleton a whopping $178 million contract because he is a perfect complementary piece to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Middleton is one of the best shooters in the league, nailing 39.2% of threes over his career, and also a very strong defensive player. In today’s NBA, a player of Middleton’s skillset is worth big bucks and that is why the Bucks forked out the cash to re-sign him.
Milwaukee made history by having 2 of the top 10 largest contract extensions in NBA history, and Middleton will be expected to assist franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo in winning an NBA championship for the Bucks in due time.
8. Paul George – $190M
2019-2020 Statistics: 21.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 41.2% 3-PT FG
Despite having a very poor season last year, Paul George managed to get a $190 million extension which puts him at number 8 all-time. George, when healthy and playing at his best, is easily worth that money because he can sell out seats with his play and can help create a title contender. With the Los Angeles Clippers, George is the most valuable asset on the team besides Kawhi Leonard.
Paul George has a great chance to win an NBA title with the Clippers if he plays at an MVP level. George is one of the best 2-way players in the entire NBA and his partnership with Kawhi Leonard could deliver the first NBA championship for the Clippers in their franchise history.
7. Klay Thompson – $190M
2018-2019 Statistics: 21.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 40.2% 3-PT FG
Klay Thompson is one of the two Golden State Warriors stars that were signed to some of the largest contracts in NBA history. Thompson earned his money by helping the Warriors make 4 NBA Finals appearances and winning 3 of them. Along with the likes of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Klay Thompson was the player drafted by Golden State and eventually became a franchise star.
Klay Thompson is unfortunately out of the entire 2021 season due to a severe injury, but he has more than deserves the massive contracts he earned. As arguably the second greatest shooter in NBA history with a career 3-point shooting average of 41.9%, Klay kicks off the list of largest contracts.
6. Anthony Davis – $190M
2019-2020 Statistics: 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.3 BPG
Anthony Davis equals Klay Thompson with a $190-million contract. Just like Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis deserves his money. He was the key addition to the Lakers that made them a superstar, and his partnership with LeBron James will be the most important talking point this season. Davis won his first NBA ring with the Lakers and will be their franchise player when LeBron James finally calls it quits on a legendary career.
Anthony Davis is the best big man in the NBA right now, and arguably a top-5 player in the world. His ability to score, defend, and own the middle makes him one of the most valuable players in franchise history and he will make up the money that the Lakers give him by likely winning another NBA ring.
5. Damian Lillard – $196M
2019-2020 Statistics: 30.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 40.1% 3-PT FG
Portland rewarded their superstar point guard with the 5th largest contract in NBA history after Lillard confirmed his loyalty with the Trail Blazers. Despite all the chatter that Lillard will never win an NBA title in Portland, Lillard made it clear that he wants to be one of the greatest Trail Blazers in NBA history and strive to win a title for them.
The offensive superstar means everything to Portland, and if he were to leave or request a trade, the Trail Blazers would become irrelevant in the West. Lillard’s offensive firepower and clutch shooting make him worthy of his massive contract extension and we will see if he can manage to deliver an NBA title to a franchise that desperately wants to win around him.
4. Stephen Curry- $201M
2018-2019 Statistics: 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 43.7% 3-PT FG
Stephen Curry is the greatest shooter in NBA history, and there is no doubt about that. Curry shoots a career 3-point percentage of 43.5%%, and with the way the league is going now, he will be the most valuable point guard going forward. In fact, it was Stephen Curry’s marksmanship that made every NBA team follow a three-point shooting style that we are today. Curry is a 3-time NBA champion, 2-time MVP, and the best point guard in the league.
There is no doubt that Stephen Curry deserves one of the largest contracts in NBA history because he has changed the league for the foreseeable future. Curry is still one of the best players in the NBA and his impact on offense cannot be ignored. Curry will be a Golden State Warrior for life, and for that, he deserves a massive contract.
3. Rudy Gobert- $205M
2019-2020 Statistics: 15.1 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.0 BPG
Rudy Gobert signed the largest contract in NBA history for a center, and that raises some questions. Gobert is a very dominant defensive player, but he doesn’t possess nearly enough on offense to make that kind of money. Gobert averaged a double-double last year and he can impact a game with his height and defensive awareness, but the Utah Jazz committed a massive part of their future to him.
What is even more shocking is the reported beef between Rudy Gobert and franchise star Donovan Mitchell, the latter whom Utah will need to be a superstar at the highest level for them to have any form of success. Gobert is a good player, but he will have to prove he can be one of the best players in the league to justify that kind of money.
2. Russell Westbrook -$207M
2019-2020 Statistics: 27.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 25.8% 3-PT FG
Russell Westbrook, triple-double extraordinaire, signed the largest contract in NBA history for a point guard. Westbrook was supposed to be Mr. Oklahoma City Thunder for life, and that was the reason for signing Russ to a massive $207 million contract. Westbrook might be the greatest Thunder player of all-time thanks to his longevity, and he deserved that contract at the time.
Unfortunately for Westbrook, he was traded to the Rockets and once again to the Wizards. As Westbrook ages and his lack of shooting makes him a liability in the spread offense style of play employed by teams across the NBA, Westbrook has one of the worst contracts in the league. Westbrook is a first-ballot Hall of Famer nonetheless, and he ranks second among the largest contracts ever behind one other superstar.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – $228M
2019-2020 Statistics: 29.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Giannis Antetokounmpo signed the single largest contract in NBA history. The Bucks tried everything possible to keep Giannis happy in Milwaukee, by signing his brother to the roster and even trading away 3 valuable first-round picks for Jrue Holiday. The Bucks know that they won’t win anything without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster, and they had to shell out a whopping $228 million to keep the superstar forward on the team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 2-time MVP, reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the best players in the world. If Giannis manages to win just one NBA title for the Bucks, this contract is immediately justified. Giannis is a Buck for the foreseeable future and he holds the record for the single largest contract in NBA history.
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