The Highest-Paid Golden State Warriors Player Every Season Since 2000

• Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the only players in Golden State Warriors history to earn at least $40 million in any single season

• Stephen Curry has been the highest paid play for the Golden State Warriors every season since 2017-18

• Since 2015, the Warriors have won four NBA championships with three different players earning Finals MVP honors

Since 2000, the Golden State Warriors have become the gold standard for success in the NBA, with four championships since 2015. It has sometimes been different during the last 24 years, as there were plenty of times the Warriors spent most of the season in the proverbial basement, struggling to stay relevant in a competitive league. Over this time, the Warriors also improved their financial and business standards, making some of their stars the highest-paid players in basketball. 

Just as we did recently with the Los Angeles Lakers, we decided that we were going to pull back the books on the Warriors franchise since 2000. We will go season by season and discuss their highest-paid players in each, seeing where they compared to the rest of the NBA as well as what they accomplished while earning such lucrative contracts. This will show us if the highest-paid players with the Warriors earned their deals or underperformed based on their financial compensation. Some seasons may have exceeded expectations, while others fail miserably and cause the team to restructure their payroll.

These are the highest-paid players for the Golden State Warriors per season since 2000.

1999-2000 Season – Donyell Marshall – $5,250,000

During the 1999-00 season, the Warriors had the 26th-highest payroll in the NBA. Only one player on their roster earned at least $5 million for the season and that was Donyell Marshall with his $5.25 million salary. Erick Dampier would earn $4.98 million, and Mookie Blaylock and Chris Mills each made $4.2 million as well.

The Warriors would have a season worth forgetting, finishing 19-63 on the year and the third-worst record in the NBA. Marshall would have a decent season, averaging 14.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 62 appearances. This would be his final season in Golden State after six seasons with the team as he was dealt to the Jazz in a massive four-team trade that also involved the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.

2000-01 Season – Erick Dampier – $5,610,000

With the departure of Marshall, Erick Dampier now took over as the highest-paid player for the Warriors as well as their only player making over $5 million for the season. Mookie Blaylock, Chris Mills, and Bob Sura were each making between $4 million and $4.8 million for the season as well. The Warriors now ranked 23rd in payroll out of 29 teams.

The team would be led by young stars Antawn Jamison and Larry Hughes on the court. Jamison averaged 24.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 82 appearances while Hughes averaged 16.5 points per game on 38.3% shooting. Meanwhile, Dampier, their highest-paid player, would only be healthy enough to appear in 43 games and averaged just 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

This poor support for their top players resulted in an even worse season in 2000 as they finished with 17 wins and the second-worst record in the NBA.

2001-02 Season – Erick Dampier – $6,235,000

In 2002, Erick Dampier would remain the highest-paid player on the Golden State Warriors, earning $6.24 million on the season. Teammates Mookie Blaylock, Chris Mills, and Bob Sura were each making just over $5 million on the season as well but their best production would come from much further down the payroll sheet.

Antawn Jamison was once again their leader on the court averaging 19.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 82 games played. Jason Richardson came on strong as a rookie as well with 14.4 points per game on 42.6% shooting. Dampier also showed that he was slightly better on the court as he was able to appear in 73 games but his production and play showed zero improvement and he averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The Warriors would only be able to improve by four wins and finish with a 21-61 record, their third season in a row with at least 60 losses.

2002-03 Season – Antawn Jamison – $10,067,750

Even with the 25th-highest payroll in the NBA, the Warriors were able to give Antawn Jamison a bit of a raise to begin the 2002-03 season. Jamison became the only player to earn at least $10 million on Golden State’s roster with his $10.1 million salary. Chris Mills and Erick Dampier would be the only other players to earn $6 million or more as well.

On the court, it was clear as to why Golden State had made Jamison their highest-paid player. He led the team once again in scoring, averaging 22.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on 47.0% shooting. Gilbert Arenas also had a breakout season of sorts with 18.3 points and 6.3 assists per game. The play by their two stars allowed for a significant improvement to 38 wins for the team on the year but they missed the NBA playoffs once again.

Following the season, Jamison would be traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the deal that landed Golden State the services of Nick Van Exel. With the move, a new era was nearly upon us in Golden State.

2003-04 Season – Nick Van Exel – $11, 956,625

With the acquisition of Van Exel, he immediately became Golden State’s highest-paid player with a $11.96 million salary. Unfortunately, the deal would backfire for Golden State in a big way. Van Exel would be available for just 39 games on the season while Jamison went to Dallas and became the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Golden State actually regressed slightly as a team with a 37-45 record in 2004, and yet another year of playoff-less basketball was upon them. Jason Richardson continued to lead the way for the team with 18.7 points per game on 43.8% shooting. The Warriors would also get a double-double from Erick Dampier with 12.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Dampier was their second-highest-paid player earning $7.8 million.

2004-05 Season – Dale Davis – $10,068,750

With a few additions to and subtractions from their roster, the Golden State Warriors would crack the top 20 in 2004-05 with their $54.9 million payroll. The most expensive addition to their roster for the season was Dale Davis, who they acquired by sending Nick Van Exel to Portland. Davis’ $10.1 million salary led the team while Adonal Foyle earned $6.5 million and Christian Laettner made $5.5 million.

The moves were a step in the wrong direction for Golden State as they spent all of that money just to finish with a 34-28 record. Davis was their worst investment as he missed 46 games and made just three starts averaging 3.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Jason Richardson remained their most promising talent with a 21.7 points per game season on 44.6% shooting.

The Warriors had now missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season and were spending over $54 million to do so. Something had to be done, and quickly, for the once-storied franchise.

2005-06 Season – Baron Davis – $13,700,000

The Warriors would increase their payroll slightly in 2005-06, spending $57.1 million in player salary, and drop to the 20th-highest payroll in the NBA. Leading the way was point guard Baron Davis with his $13.7 million salary while Jason Richardson got a raise to $8.8 million. Troy Murphy and Adonal Foyle would also see a raise to over $7 million in salary for the season.

Davis would shine for the Warriors in 2005-06 as one of the best two-way guards in the game. Davis would average 17.9 points, 8.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game but could only remain on the court for 54 games played. Richardson was the Warriors’ brightest star yet again with 23.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on 44.6% shooting.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, there was no change to how they performed as a unit. For the second straight season, the team could only manage 34 wins, and for the seventh straight season, found themselves watching the NBA playoffs from home.

2006-07 Season – Baron Davis – $15,070,000

The 2006-07 season would be one of the most memorable in team history prior to their 2010s dynastic run. The Warriors’ payroll would increase to $65 million for the season, making Golden State’s payroll the 10th-highest in the NBA. Leading the way was Davis once again with his $15.1 million salary and Jason Richardson who was now making $10 million.

Although he would miss 19 games in the regular season, Davis would lead the team with 20.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. It was Davis’ second career steals title as well as the second 20.0 points per game season of his career. Finally, the playoff-less streak had been broken as well as the Warriors won 42 games but drew the mighty 67-win Mavericks in the first round.

In the series, the Warriors showed no fear against the far-superior team as they pulled off the massive upset in six games. Davis led the way with 25.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game to knock off the NBA title favorites. Stephen Jackson also added 22.8 points per game to aid in the win. Although they would fall in five games in the second round, the We Believe Warriors had won over the hearts of NBA fans everywhere and made Golden State relevant for the first time in a long time. It was the sort of performance that earned Davis a spot on the Warriors’ all-time GOAT pyramid.

2007-08 Season – Baron Davis – $16,440,000

With some pay cuts to their roster and other departures, the Golden State Warriors’ payroll would be cut to $62.14 million in 2007-08. This dropped them to 24th in the NBA among eligible teams. They would be led by Baron Davis’ $16.44 million salary which was followed by Adonal Foyle and Al Harrington’s salary of over $8 million.

Davis would have another incredible season for Golden State, starting all 82 games and averaging 21.8 points, 7.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis also had seasons averaging over 20.0 points per game and led the Warriors to 48 wins. Even finishing 14 games over .5000, they would miss the NBA playoffs which was heartbreaking for a team that improved so much yet still fell short.

2008-09 Season – Monta Ellis – $11,000,000

In the offseason, the Warriors would lose Baron Davis in free agency to the Clippers. This paved the way for Monta Ellis to take over as the team’s highest-paid player, earning $11 million for the 2008-09 season. Despite their 24th-ranked payroll, the Warriors also paid Andris Biedrins slightly over $9 million and Jamal Crawford slightly over $8 million to round out their top three players in terms of salary.

There would once again be growing pains that came with the types of moves. Monta Ellis would be healthy enough for only 25 games on the season with 19.0 points on 45.1% shooting. Al Harrington would only play five games due to injury as well. Stephen Jackson would lead the team for the 59 games he was active with 20.7 points per game on 41.4% shooting.

With all of the setbacks due to injury and roster reconstruction, the Warriors had reverted to their losing ways. They would finish with a record of 29-53, missing the NBA playoffs for the ninth time in ten years.

2009-10 Season – Monta Ellis – $11,000,000

For the 2010 season, The Warriors still remained in the $65 million range for their team payroll with the 21st-highest payroll in the NBA. Leading the way was Monta Ellis once again with his $11 million salary followed by Andres Biedrins making $9 million and Corey Maggette earning $8.93 million.

On the court, the team looked lost as they finished with a 26-56 record. The team got 64 games from Ellis and he finished the season with 25.5 points per game on 44.9% shooting overall. Emerging at the same time was another point guard with serious potential, Stephen Curry who shot an incredible 43.7% from three and began to slowly change the game as we know it.

The Warriors had a position battle on their hands as they knew they couldn’t succeed if both Ellis and Curry shared the court. With their clashing playstyles but Curry’s ankle issues remaining a concern, the Warriors went ahead with their same roster in 2010-11.

2010-11 Season – Troy Murphy – $11,968,253

With significant salaries being dished out to three players, the Warriors’ payroll increased to just over $68 million, the 14th-highest in the NBA. Troy Murphy would slide into the top-earning spot with his $11.97 million salary just ahead of Monta Ellis’ $11 million for the season. David Lee would also come along and earn $10.8 million to round out the top three highest-paid players.

What makes the fact that Murphy was their highest-paid player in 2010-11 is the fact he was traded from the team back in 2007 meaning they had paid him all this time to stay away. As their second-highest-paid player, Ellis led the Warriors again with 24.1 points and 5.6 assists per game in 80 games played for the team in 2010-11.

Even with the continued play of Ellis and the development of Stephen Curry, the Warriors failed to reach 40 wins as a team finishing with a 36-46 record. The organization would be faced with even tougher decisions moving forward but little did they know, brighter times were just around the corner.

2011-12 Season – David Lee – $11,610,000

The Warriors remained in the top 20 for payroll for the 2011-12 season with player salaries that totaled $61,6 million for the season. Big man David Lee was now the highest-paid player on the team with his $11.61 million salary just ahead of Monta Ellis’ $11 million. Rounding out the top three would be Andres Biedrins with his $9 million as well.

On the court, the Warriors would be bitten by the injury big once again. Stephen Curry would be limited to just 26 games due to his ankle injury but the Warriors made a clear move to ensure it was him they were moving forward with as their starting point guard. The team traded Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Andrew Bogut. This season was lost, however, with Golden State able to win just 23 games in a 66-game season. The future was bright for the Warriors though as they had the crore they wanted to head into the future with.

2012-13 Season – Andrew Bogut – $13,150,000

Having acquired a number-one overall pick in Bogut the previous season allowed him to take the title of their highest-paid player for the 2012-13 season. David Lee and Richard Jefferson would be the other two players on the roster to make at least $10 million for the season as well, and the Warriors would have the seventh-highest payroll in the NBA.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Bogut would be limited to just 32 games played due to injury and a measly 5.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Instead, Stephen Curry would emerge as their clear number-one option averaging 22.9 points and 6.9 assists per game on 45.3% shooting from three-point range. Second-year player Klay Thompson also contributed 16.6 points per game and the Warriors would advance to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2007.

In the NBA playoffs, the Warriors found themselves in a matchup with the Denver Nuggets in round one. The Warriors would be led to victory in six games by Stephen Curry’s 24.3 points per game on 44.2% shooting from three and Jarrett Jack’s 18.8 points and 7.0 assists per game. In the next round, the Warriors would fall in six games to the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.

2013-14 Season – Andrew Bogut – $14,200,000

The 2013-14 season would mark the second season in a row that Andrew Bogut led the Warriors in salary, earning $14.2 million. The only other two players to make at least $10 million on the year would be David Lee and Andre Iguodala as the Warriors now had the eighth-highest payroll in the NBA when it came to player salaries.

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Warriors would win more than 50 games during the 2013-14 season showing signs that the turnaround they were building towards was finally upon us. The team would be led by Stephen Curry’s 24.0 points per game on 42.4% shooting from three along with more than 18.0 points per game from both Klay Thompson and David Lee. Andrew Bogut would provide a solid 7.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game as well.

With their 51 wins, the Warriors would advance to the NBA playoffs to take on the Los Angeles Clippers. The series would be a hard-fought seven-game series. Curry would average 23.0 points and 8.4 assists per game while Thompson averaged 16.4 points per game. The Clippers would emerge victorious though with a 126-121 victory in Game 7.

2014-15 Season – David Lee – $15,012,000

The 2014-15 season would be the most successful season the Warriors had for 40 years since their last NBA championship. David Lee would be their highest-paid plat with a salary worth just over $15 million. Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala, and Stephen Curry would be the only other players to earn over $10 million on the season. They would all earn their salaries and then some, especially Iguodala and Curry.

Curry would explode during the season for 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game on 48.7% shooting overall and 44.3% from three. This performance, and the fact that Golden State would get 67 wins, would earn an MVP award for Curry for the first time in his career. Klay Thompson would also average 21.7 points per game on 43.9% shooting from three.

The Warriors would then go 12-3 over their first three playoff series to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1975. The series would be a battle against LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The series would only go as far as six games with the Warriors capturing the title in the end. Stephen Curry had an argument for Finals MVP with 26.0 points and 6.3 assists per game but that honor was reserved for Andre Iguodala and his defensive effort against James along with 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

2015-16 Season – Klay Thompson – $15,501,000

As the Warriors head into the 2015-16 season as defending champions, their payroll ballooned to $93.7 million as a team. Klay Thompson took over as the team’s highest-paid player with a $15.5 million salary. Joining him with salaries over $10 million would be Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala.

The regular season would be historic for Golden State as the Warriors won an NBA-record 73 games. Stephen Curry would earn his second-straight and the first-ever unanimous MVP award in NBA history averaging 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. In his monumental earning season, Thompson would average 22.1 points per game on 47.0% shooting overall and 42.5% shooting from three.

In the NBA playoffs, the Warriors would once again cruise to the NBA Finals to meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. During the NBA Finals, the Warriors would build a 3-1 series lead against the Cavaliers. Then, led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Cleveland would orchestrate the greatest upset and comeback in NBA playoff history by winning three straight games and their first championship in franchise history. This would force the Warriors to take drastic action in the offseason and reshape the NBA as we know it.

2016-17 Season – Kevin Durant – $26,540,100

After blowing a chance at the greatest season and playoff run in NBA history, the Warriors would go out and snatch the most coveted free agent of the offseason, Kevin Durant. This made Durant Golden State’s highest-paid player by a long shot as he made $26.5 million for the season. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Andre Iguodala would all make over $10 million as well and the Warriors saw their payroll exceed $100 million for the first time in team history.

With the addition of Durant, the Warriors looked absolutely unstoppable. Both he and Stephen Curry averaged just over 25.0 points per game while Klay Thompson added 22.3 points per game as well. Draymond Green would have his best season yet with a Defensive Player of the Year campaign as the Warriors went on to win 67 games and look like heavy title favorites heading into the playoffs.

The Warriors would be perfect in their first three playoff series, sweeping the Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Spurs on their way back to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, the Cavaliers led By LeBron James would be no match for the offensive firepower set forth by Golden State’s lineup. Golden State would go on to win their second NBA title in three years behind a Finals MVP performance by Durant with 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 55.6% shooting.

2017-18 Season – Stephen Curry – $34,682,550

The 2017-18 season would look much like the 2017 season in the sense that Golden State looked to be on its way to yet another easy NBA championship. Stephen Curry finally took over as their highest-paid player with a $34.7 million salary. Along with Kevin Durant making $25 million on the season, the Warriors now had the second-highest payroll in the NBA.

During the regular season, both Curry and Durant averaged 26.4 points per game while shooting lights out both overall and from beyond the arc. Klay Thompson also added 20.0 points per game as the Warriors went on to win 58 games and take all of the momentum in the world heading into the NBA playoffs. In the playoffs, the Warriors would go 12-5 over their first three series to advance to the NBA Finals against the Cavaliers for the fourth straight season.

The NBA Finals would not even be close as Golden State worked their way to a four-game sweep and their third title in four years. Kevin Durant was once again named Finals MVP with 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game on 52.6% shooting from the field. Stephen Curry was also outstanding with 27.5 points per game on 41.5% shooting from three. The Warriors were officially a dynasty and had become the greatest team of the 2010s decade.

2018-19 Season – Stephen Curry – $37,457,154

In 2018-19, Stephen Curry remained the highest-paid player on the Golden State Warriors with a salary that fell just shy of $37.5 million. Also making $30 million on the season was Kevin Durant while Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala each made just over $15 million.

The regular season would be more of the same for the Warriors. They were led by Stephen Curry’s 27.3 points per game on 47.2% shooting overall and 43.7% shooting from three. Kevin Durant would average 26.0 points per game as well and Thompson added 21.5 points per game on 40.2% shooting from three. With this collective effort, Golden State would win 57 games and again be the favorites as the NBA playoffs approached.

During the early going of the NBA playoffs, Kevin Durant would suffer a heel injury that would haunt him the rest of the way. Still, the Warriors went 12-4 over their first three series to advance to their fifth straight NBA Finals. Durant would try to play but lasted just under 10 minutes before tearing his Achilles in Game 5. Klay Thompson would also go down with a torn ACL which all but buried the team for the series. The Toronto Raptors would take advantage of the injuries and win their first NBA championship led by Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

2019-20 Season – Stephen Curry – $40,231,758

Stephen Curry would become the first Warriors player to ever earn $40 million in a season in 2019-20 with a $40.2 million salary. Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins would also earn well over $25 million for the season as Kevin Durant would depart in free agency.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Thompson was lost for the season due to the knee injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. To add insult to injury, or injury to injury rather, Stephen Curry would miss all but five games during the season as well, leaving the team in the hands of Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors would go an awful 15-50 on the year and miss the NBA playoffs altogether when they restarted at Disney World during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020-21 Season – Stephen Curry – $43,006,362

Stephen Curry would come back with a vengeance during the 2020-21 season. With his $43 million salary, Curry was once again Golden State’s highest-paid player. Not too far behind him was Klay Thompson making $35.4 million, Andrew Wiggins making $29 million, and Draymond Green earning just over $22 million.

Curry would play 63 of 72 games during the regular season and take home his second career scoring title averaging 32.0 points per game on 48.2% shooting overall and 42.1% from three. The 39 wins they accumulated would be enough to qualify for the newly introduced play-in tournament in order to try and earn the seventh or eighth seed in the NBA playoffs. With losses to both the Lakers and Grizzlies, the Warriors would miss the NBA playoffs altogether and the NBA community all but declared the dynasty dead.

2021-22 Season – Stephen Curry – $45,780,966

Now heading into the 2021-22 season, the Warriors would have three players earning more than $30 million on their payroll. Stephen Curry led the way with his monster $45 million salary. Thompson would make $37.99 million and Andrew Wiggins rounded out the top three with $31.6 million.

During the season, the Warriors would have their ups and downs as a team but fought hard to get back to the NBA playoffs. They welcomed back Klay Thompson who had missed just over two seasons with his knee injuries and their championship core would lead them to a 53-29 record, earning the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

In the playoffs, the Warriors would go 12-4 in their first three series, eliminating the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Mavericks to get back to the NBA Finals for their sixth appearance since 2015. This time, waiting for them was the young and hungry Boston Celtics. Stephen Curry would not be denied his chance at another ring and he went off for 31.2 points per game on 48.2% shooting overall as well as 43.7% from three. Curry was finally off the snide as far as Finals MVP goes, earning the award for his performance for the first time in his career.

2022-23 Season – Stephen Curry – $48,070,014

The 2022-23 season for the Golden State Warriors seemed doomed from the start for Golden State. Curry led all earners for the Warriors with $48.1 million in salary but Klay Thompson finished just behind him, making $40 million on the year for the first time in his career. Andrew Wiggins would also make $33 million for the year while Draymond Green made just over $25 million.

Prior to the season, a black cloud was placed above the heads of the franchise as Draymond Green and Jordan Poole engaged in one of the worst teammate fights in NBA history. As the year progressed it was clear these were not the same Warriors as they struggled on the road and limped their way to a 44-38 record.

In the NBA playoffs, the Warriors would be tested in the first round against the Kings. It would take a record-breaking 50-point performance from Stephen Curry in Game 7 to eliminate the Kings, and the Warriors would advance to take on the Lakers. Against the Lakers, the Warriors found themselves completely overmatched and were dominated in six games to fall short of their championship goal. 

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