Over the last few months, we have steadily revealed who the highest-paid NBA players are at each position using a tier system based on each player’s career earnings. We have taken the top 25 highest-earning players from the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward positions and ranked them based strictly on their basketball earnings through the 2023 season. Now, we focus on the frontcourt and introduce the highest-paid NBA power forwards of all time.
Much like the previous three positions we have covered, this list will certainly have a fair share of surprises. Those include current players who are earning more money than ever before as well as NBA veterans who may have cashed in big on one or two decent seasons before tailing off in their careers. Regardless of how they got to this point, these 25 power forwards are set for life due to their ability to secure monster basketball contracts.
These are the highest-paid NBA power forwards of all time ranked by tiers.
Tier 5 – $120 Million – $149 Million
Juwan Howard – $149,014,155
Carlos Boozer – $143,475,590
Pascal Siakam – $143,163,667
Antawn Jamison – $139,225,261
Aaron Gordon – $134,735,074
Julius Randle – $131,448,762
Marvin Williams – $122,709,268
Tier 5 of the highest-paid power forwards in NBA history presents a nice mix of current and former players who earned between $120 and $140.9 million in their careers. Juwan Howard inked one of the craziest contracts in NBA history during the early stages of his career that catapulted him up this list with $149 million made in 19 seasons of play. Howard made one All-Star team and won two NBA championships with the Heat later in his career. Between 1998 and 2003 with the Wizards, Mavericks, and Nuggets, Howard made between $11 million and $20.5 million every season.
Carlos Boozer was a 13-year NBA veteran who made $143.5 million in his career. Boozer was a two-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA Team selection during his career with the Cavaliers, Jazz, Bulls, and Lakers. Boozer made most of his money between 2005 and 2015 when he earned between $10.9 million and $15.3 million every season with Utah and Chicago.
Pascal Siakam is a current NBA power forward with the Toronto Raptors who will continue to climb this list at a rapid pace. At just 29 years old, Siakam has already made $143.16 million in his career. He has helped the Raptors win a championship in 2019, won Most Improved Player in 2019, and is a two-time All-Star and All-NBA Team selection. Siakam is set to make $37.9 million for the 2023-24 season and command an enormous payday this summer in free agency.
Antawn Jamison is a fine example of an underrated player who was paid his real value in his career. Jamison played 16 seasons in the NBA for six different teams. He was a two-time All-Star, the 2004 Sixth Man of the Year, and one of 15 players in NBA history to score 30 or more points against all 30 NBA teams. Jamison made between $10 million and $15.1 million every season from 2003 through 2012 with the Warriors, Mavericks, Wizards, and Cavaliers.
Aaron Gordon may have just won an NBA championship last season with the Denver Nuggets but he was winning well before that. Gordon is only 10 seasons into his career and has already made $134.7 million to show for it. He has made at least $16.4 million every season since 2019 with the Magic and Nuggets with more still to come on his current deal. In 2023-24, he is set to make $22.3 million as well as $23.8 million in 2024-25 and has a player option worth $23.8 million for 2025-26.
Julius Randle is yet another current power forward who has made his way onto Tier 5. Randle is currently in his ninth season and has already made $131.45 million in his career. In nine years with the Lakers, Pelicans, and Knicks, Randle has made two All-Star and two All-NBA teams thus far. Randle has made $18 million or more every season since 2020 and is set to make $28.2 million in 2023-24, $30.3 million in 2024-25, and has a player option for $32.4 million in 2025-26.
The final member of Tier 5 is NBA veteran Marvin Williams. In 15 seasons in the NBA, Williams played for four teams including the Hawks, Hornets, Jazz, and Bucks. Williams was never an All-Star or All-NBA Team selection but did average 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for his career. Williams made $7.5 million or more every season of his career from 2012 through 2020 and $12.25 million or more every season from 2017 through 2020.
Tier 4 – $150 Million-$199 Million
Zach Randolph – $196,597,245
Paul Millsap – $192,540,558
Chris Webber – $178,230,697
Draymond Green – $177,883,613
Elton Brand – $165,901,096
Thaddeus Young – $151,403,318
Rasheed Wallace – $150,980,511
When it comes to the seven power forwards in Tier 4 who made between $150 million and $199 million in their careers, only two are active power forwards. Zach Randolph leads the tier with the $196.6 million he made in his 17-year NBA career. Randolph was a two-time All-Star, All-NBA Team selection, and the 2004 Most Improved Player over 17 seasons. Between 2006 and 2019, Randolph made between $9.7 million and $17.8 million every season with the Trail Blazers, Knicks, Clippers, Grizzlies, Kings, and Mavericks.
Paul Millsap is another 2000s and 2010s power forward who cashed in big in his career. Millsap made $192.5 million in 16 seasons in the NBA with five different teams. During that time, he earned four All-Star appearances and an All-Defensive Team selection. Millsap was rewarded with a big contract by the Hawks in 2016 that saw him earn between $19 million and $30.5 million every season through 2020.
Chris Webber is one of the 20 greatest power forwards in NBA history who made $178.2 million in his 15-year NBA career. Webber was a five-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA Team selection who peaked as a 27.0 points per game scorer. From 1999 through 2007, Webber made between $10 million and $19.1 million every season with the Bullets, Kings, and 76ers.
Draymond Green is the lone current power forward in Tier 4 with $177.8 million made in his career. Green has been the backbone in many ways for the Warriors dynasty which won four NBA championships from 2015 through 2022. The former Defensive Player of the Year has made over $14 million every season since 2016 with the Warriors and is currently under contract through 2026-27 for a minimum of $22.3 million per season.
Elton Brand is a former No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year who played 17 seasons in the NBA with five different teams. Brand was also a two-time All-Star and All-NBA Team selection in 2006. Brand made most of his money in his prime from 2004 through 2013 with the Clippers and 76ers. During that span, he made between $10.9 million and $17.1 million every season while averaging 16.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Thaddeus Young is an NBA veteran who flew under the radar for most of his career. Young is still active in his 17th season in 2023-24 with the Toronto Raptors the last two and a half years. Young has made at least $8 million every season since 2013 with the 76ers, Nets, Pacers, Bulls, and Raptors. He is set to make $8 million again in 2023-24 at the age of 35 with very little time spent on the court.
The final member of Tier 4 is former enforcer and NBA bad boy, Rasheed Wallace. Other than setting records for technical fouls, Wallace was a vital part of the 2004 championship Pistons Squad as well as a four-time All-Star. Wallace made great money during the 2000s, earning between $9.7 million and $17 million every season from 2000 through 2009. Wallace may have come with his share of baggage but when the game started, he was someone you were glad to have on your side.
Tier 3 – $200 Million-$249 Million
Tobias Harris – $248,503,505
Tim Duncan – $242,024,800
Chris Bosh – $239,063,622
Giannis Antetokounmpo – $234,477,446
Pau Gasol – $220,990,766
LaMarcus Aldridge – $213,385,919
Tier 3 is where you will find the NBA power forwards who have made between $200 million and $249 million in their careers. Tobias Harris’ presence on this tier, and ahead of some of the names he is ahead of, is the perfect example as to why he is one of the most overpaid players ever. Without ever even being an All-Star, Harris has made over $16 million every season since 2016 with the Pistons and over $32.7 million every season since 2020 with the 76ers. In 2023-24, he is in the final season of his deal, making $39.3 million as one of the most overpaid players in the NBA.
Tim Duncan is universally known as the greatest power forward in NBA history. While he should be at the top of these tiers, Duncan falls into Tier 3 with $242 million made in 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. As Duncan led his franchise to five NBA titles with three Finals MVP awards and two MVP awards, he made at least $9.6 million every season from 2001 through 2015. At his peak, he made $20 million per year or more and took a salary of just $1.8 million in each of his final three seasons.
Chris Bosh earned the $239 million he made in his career with the Raptors and Heat from 2004 through 2016. Bosh helped Miami win two NBA championships and make four NBA Finals appearances in his career along with 11 All-Star selections and one All-NBA Team selection. Bosh made $12.5 million or more every season from 2008 through 2016 and was even paid over $23 million per season from 2016 through 2019 when he was forced to retire due to a heart issue.
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be in Tier 3 right now with $234.5 million in career earnings but he has his eyes on the top spot eventually. Antetokounmpo has made over $22 million per season every season since 2018, winning two MVPs, an NBA title, and a Finals MVP in that time frame. He is set to make $45.6 million this season with the Bucks and $48.8 million in 2024-25.
Pau Gasol is one of the greatest NBA power forwards of the 2000s who was well-known for his role with the Memphis Grizzlies and two championship runs alongside Kobe Bryant with the Lakers. Gasol was a six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA Team selection in 18 seasons in the NBA, making $221 million in the process. His most lucrative seasons came between 2006 and 2014 when he made between $10.9 million and $19.3 million every year with Memphis and Los Angeles.
The final member of Tier 3 is none other than LaMarcus Aldridge. In 16 seasons with Portland, San Antonio, and Brooklyn, Aldridge made $213.4 million while earning seven All-Star selections and five All-NBA Team selections. His highest-earning seasons came from 2016 through 2020 with the Spurs when he earned between $19.5 million and $26 million every season.
Tier 2 – $250 Million-$299 Million
Kevin Love – $269,654,140
Anthony Davis – $266,608,394
Blake Griffin – $258,670,680
Dirk Nowitzki – $251,646,362
Only five NBA power forwards in history can claim they made over $250 million in their careers. Kevin Love is the second-highest-paid power forward ever, earning $269.65 million in 15 seasons of NBA service. Love helped the Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA title in a massive upset as well as earned five All-Star appearances, two All-NBA Team selections, and the 2011 Most Improved Player award. From 2017 through 2023, Love earned at least $21.1 million per season and as much as $31.3 million in 2021 and 2022. He is currently under contract with the Heat through 2024-25 for $4 million annually.
Anthony Davis is one of the best two-way power forwards in NBA history who helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship. Davis is also an eight-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA Team selection, and four-time All-Defensive Team selection in 11 seasons of play with the Pelicans and Lakers. On top of the $266.6 million he has already made, Davis is set to make over $40 million in 2024 and 2025 as well as over $60 million annually through 2027-28.
Blake Griffin had a very lucrative career over 13 seasons from 2011 through 2023. Griffin was a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA Team selection with the Clippers and Pistons before playing journeyman toward the end of his career with Brooklyn and Boston. Griffin made between $16.4 million and $20.1 million from 2014 through 2017 which ballooned to over $29 million from 2018 through 2021.
The final member of this tier is Dirk Nowitzki who played 21 seasons in the NBA from 1999 through 2019 with the Dallas Mavericks. Nowitzki became the Mavericks’ GOAT during these two decades, winning an MVP and leading the Mavericks to their first NBA title in 2011 with Finals MVP honors. Nowitzki was rewarded handsomely for his efforts by Dallas with between $10 million and $19 million in salary from 2003 through 2012 as well as three seasons over $20 million that followed.
Tier 1 – $300 Million+
Kevin Garnett – $334,304,240
The highest-paid NBA power forward of all time is Kevin Garnett by a long shot. From an early age out of high school with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Garnett’s potential and stardom blossomed into greatness. He is a former MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Garnett made over $12 million in salary every season from 1999 through 2015 with six seasons earning over $22 million mixed in between. Garnett’s resume speaks for itself as to why he deserves the distinct honor of being the only power forward in NBA history to earn over $300 million in his career, for now anyway.
