Some of the greatest overall players in NBA history have called the small forward position their home. With greatness usually comes a hefty paycheck as a reward just as we saw with our point guard and shooting guard rankings. With small forwards, you will see the top two highest-paid players in NBA history as well as nine other players who have earned an astounding $200 million or more in their NBA careers.
Below are 25 of the highest-paid NBA small forwards of all time, separated into tiers based on their total career earnings in the NBA. From the veterans who accumulated $100 million over the years to the superstars who rewrote the history books and how players are paid today, these 25 small forwards secured the bag and their families’ financial future for generations to come
These are the highest-paid NBA small forwards of all time ranked by tiers.
Tier 6 – $100 Million-$149 Million
Brandon Ingram – $145,606,392
Grant Hill – $141,008,544
Otto Porter Jr. – $138,816,877
Shawn Marion – $134,936,762
Chandler Parsons – $126,998,999
Bojan Bogdanovic – $123,629,296
Trevor Ariza – $118,962,219
Richard Jefferson – $116,683,643
Tier 1 starts us off with the eight small forwards who made between $100 million and $149 million in their careers. The leader of this tier right now is Brandon Ingram, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers and currently with the New Orleans Pelicans. Ingram is an eight-year veteran of the NBA who has made one All-Star team and averages 19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists for his career. In addition to making $145.6 million thus far in his career, Ingram is set to make $36 million next season with New Orleans, catapulting him into Tier 5 at that time.
Grant Hill is one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history. With the Pistons early in his career, Hill was a five-time All-Star in his first six seasons, averaging 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Between 2002 and 2007 with the Orlando Magic, Hill made between $10 million and $16.5 million annually despite struggling with injuries that kept him off the court more than he was on it. In the end, Hill was a Hall of Famer who earned the 1995 Rookie of the Year, seven All-Star selections, and five All-NBA Team selections.
Otto Porter Jr. is an unlikely name to be seen on this list yet has been fortunate enough to play in a time with inflated contracts. Porter is an 11-year veteran of the NBA with the Wizards, Warriors, Bulls, Raptors, and Magic. He has never been an All-Star and has averaged just 10.2 points and 5.0 rebounds for his career. From 2018 through 2021, Porter was earning anywhere from $24 million to $28.5 million with the Wizards, Bulls, and Magic.
Shawn Marion aka “The Matrix” was an underrated star forward for the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks during the 2000s and 2010s. Marion’s defensive abilities were a big reason why the Mavericks went on to win the 2011 NBA title. Despite being just a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Team selection, Marion earned the biggest chunk of money in his career from 2004 through 2009 when he made $10 million to $17.8 million annually with the Suns, Heat, and Raptors.
Often referred to as one of the most overpaid players in NBA history, Chandler Parsons also cracks Tier 6 for the $126.9 million he made in his NBA career. Parsons played nine seasons in the NBA with the Rockets, Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Hawks, averaging 12.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Over the last four seasons of his career, Parsons made at least $22 million per season under one of the worst contracts in NBA history that paid him $94 million over four years with the Grizzlies.
Bojan Bogdanovic is another current NBA player to make this tier based on his $123.6 million career earnings. Bogdanovic is a 10-year NBA veteran who has averaged 15.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in his career with the Nets, Pacers, Jazz, and Pistons. Since 2017-18, Bogdanovic has made a minimum of $10.5 million each season and is making $20 million in 2023-24 while also being due $19 million in 2024-25.
Trevor Ariza was a career journeyman in the NBA, playing for 10 teams in 18 seasons. Ariza was never an All-Star but did help the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers capture an NBA championship. Even with his extensive history of teams played for, the only time he ever earned over $10 million in a season was from 2019 through 2021 with the Wizards, Trail Blazers, and Heat when he made $12.2 million per season or more.
The final member of Tier 6 is former NBA small forward Richard Jefferson. Jefferson played 17 seasons in the NBA with the Nets, Bucks, Spurs, Warriors, Jazz, Mavericks, Cavaliers, and Nuggets. Jefferson was a member of the 2016 NBA champion Cavaliers who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NBA history and averaged 12.6 points per game for his career. Jefferson was rewarded handsomely for his efforts on the court, earning $10 million or more every season from 2006 through 2014 no matter which stop he was on in his career.
Tier 5 – $150 Million-$199 Million
Nicolas Batum – $199,123,175
Andrew Wiggins – $195,171,611
Paul Pierce – $195,132,032
Andre Iguodala – $185,219,886
Harrison Barnes – $183,158,501
Rudy Gay – $181,260,320
Luol Deng – $166,056,673
Rashard Lewis – $151,217,496
The next eight players on our list make up Tier 5 and are the small forwards who earned between $150 million and $199 million in their NBA careers. Nicolas Batum, recently traded to the 76ers in the deal that sent James Harden to the Clippers, leads Tier 5 with $199.1 million in career earnings. Batum is a 16-year NBA veteran who has never been an All-Star or All-NBA Team selection. From 2017 through 2020, Batum was paid $20.9 million-$25.6 million annually with the Hornets under an awful contract that is still talked about today.
Right behind Batum with $195.2 million made in his career is Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors. The former No. 1 overall pick is a 10-year veteran who has played in one All-Star Game and averages 19.0 points per game for his career. Wiggins has made at least $25.5 million every season since 2019 and is set to make over $24 million per season through 2025-26 with a player option worth $30.1 million for 2026-27 when he will be 32 years old.
Paul Pierce is the most accomplished player we have encountered so far today on either tier. Pierce is a former Finals MVP and the all-time leading scorer for the Boston Celtics who played 19 seasons from 1999 through 2017. The former 10-time All-Star was one of the game’s highest-paid players during his prime, earning between $10.1 million and $19.8 million every season from 2003-2014. Pierce would help the Celtics win their first title since the days of Larry Bird in 2008, claiming Finals MVP honors as well.
Andre Iguodala also enjoyed a long and illustrious career with the 76ers, Nuggets, Warriors, and Heat. Iguodala would end up winning four NBA titles with the Warriors in his career including the 2015 title in which he earned Finals MVP recognition. Every season from 2009 through 2021, Iguodala was paid anywhere from $11.3 to $17.1 million for his efforts. In his career, Iguodala would earn one All-Star selection and two All-Defensive Team selections on top of his four titles and 2015 Finals MVP.
Harrison Barnes is yet another current small forward to be fortunate enough to crack Tier 5 with $183.2 million in career earnings. Barnes is currently in his 12th season in the NBA with the Kings in 2023-24 having also spent time with the Warriors and Mavericks previously. From 2-17 through 2022, Barnes made anywhere from $20 million to $24.1 million annually and is set to make $54 million with Sacramento over the next three seasons.
Rudy Gay is one of those players that everybody thought was going to be a superstar but never reached that level of play even if he was paid like it. Gay is a 17-year veteran of the NBA who has made appearances for the Grizzlies, Raptors, Kings, Spurs, and Jazz. He has never earned more than an All-Rookie Team selection in his career but has been rewarded with 10 seasons of making at least $10.1 million in his career, earning him a spot in Tier 5.
Look away Lakers fans. Luol Deng is the next player on our list with $166.1 million made in his career. Deng is a former two-time All-Star and one-time All-Defensive Team selection with the Bulls, Cavaliers, and Lakers from 2005 through 2019. Deng made at least $10 million in nine different seasons in his career, including his final contract with the Lakers in 2017. Even after retirement, the Lakers had given him a deal that paid him $5 million per season through 2021-22.
The final member of Tier 5 is none other than Rashard Lewis, a player who ranks top 25 in career three-pointers made and was a two-time All-Star and an NBA champion in 2013. Lewis played 16 seasons in the NBA with the SuperSonics, Magic, Wizards, and Heat from 1999 through 2014. He averaged 14.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in his career and made anywhere from $13.7 million to $21.2 million annually from 2008 through 2013.
Tier 4 – $200 Million-$249 Million
Khris Middelton – $223,072,156
Danilo Gallinari – $201,736,696
Just two players make up Tier 4 of our list and have made between $200 million and $249 million in their NBA careers. Both players remain active in 2023-24 and will undoubtedly continue to climb their way up this list. The first of these players is Bucks forward Khris Middleton who has been in the NBA for 12 seasons with Detroit and Milwaukee. Middleton played a large role in the Bucks’ 2021 championship run. From 202 through 2023, Middle was paid $30.6 million or more and is currently set to top $30 million each season through 2025-26 under his current contract.
Danilo Gallinari is another current NBA small forward who has topped $200 million in earnings in his 16-year career. Gallinari has spent time with the Knicks, Nuggets, Clippers, Thunder, Hawks, and Wizards in his career without ever earning an All-Star or All-NBA Team selection. Despite his lack of production, Gallinari has had four seasons in which he earned over $20 million in his career as well as six other seasons in which he earned at least $10 million.
Tier 3 – $250 Million-$299 Million
Kawhi Leonard – $276,566,211
Gordon Hayward – $268,384,749
Jimmy Butler – $263,249,191
Carmelo Anthony – $262,523,093
Tier 3 is when we begin to run into some of the elite small forwards in NBA history as well as an imposter I am still trying to figure out how he got there. Kawhi Leonard has earned $276.6 million in his career by becoming an elite two-way player throughout the last 13 seasons with the Spurs, Raptors, and Clippers. Leonard has led two different teams to NBA championships while winning Finals MVP both times on top of two Defensive Player of the Year awards as well. Leonard is currently under contract with the Clippers for $45.6 million in 2023-24 and has a player option for 2025-26 worth $48.8 million.
Gordon Hayward is the imposter I spoke about earlier who should thank his agent every day for the $268.4 million he has made in his career. Hayward is a 14-year veteran who has been an All-Star one time and struggled with injury for the majority of the last decade. Since 2018, Hayward has made a minimum of $29.7 million annually with the Celtics and Hornets and is also making $31.5 million in 2023-24 with Charlotte.
Jimmy Butler being below Hayward on the career earnings list seems criminal but here we are. I am sure Butler isn’t complaining with $263.3 million in his pocket over the last 13 seasons. Butler is a six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA Team selection, and a five-time All-Defensive Team selection in his career who has made a minimum of $20.4 million since 2019. Butler is due upwards of $45 million per season through 2024-25 and has a player option worth $52.4 million in 2025-26.
The final member of Tier 3 is a top 10 scorer of all-time and one of the most disrespected stars in the history of the NBA. Carmelo Anthony may have never been in a championship-winning situation in his career but delivered buckets wherever he went in his 19-year career. Anthony earned $262.5 million in his career with 10 All-Star selections and six All-NBA Team selections, averaging 22.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Tier 2 – $300 Million-$399 Million
Kevin Durant – $396,705,024
Paul George – $305,332,086
Only two small forwards in NBA history have made between $300 million and $399 million in their NBA careers. Kevin Durant is one of those players and has done so by becoming one of the most offensively skilled players to ever touch a basketball. In his 17-year career, Durant has won two NBA titles, two Finals MVP awards, one MVP award, and four scoring titles with 13 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA Team selections as well. Durant has made over $30 million every season since 2019 and is set to become one of nine players to earn at least $50 million in 2024-25 with the Phoenix Suns.
Paul George also narrowly sneaks into Tier 2 with career earnings totaling $305.3 million in his 14-year career. George has been known as one of the most skilled small forwards in the NBA for quite some time now even when struggling to maintain his health over the last few seasons with the Clippers. Averaging 20.7 points per game for his career. George has made at least $30.6 million every season since 2019 with the Thunder. He is making $45.6 million in 2023-24 and has a player option worth $48.8 million in 2024-25.
Tier 1 – $400 Million+
LeBron James – $479,466,457
LeBron James is greatness personified on the basketball court over the last 21 seasons and has been paid like it for the majority of his career. James is not only the highest-paid small forward in NBA history but the four-time NBA champion and Finals MVP is also the highest-paid NBA player in terms of contracts ever. He is one of three NBA players to reach billionaire status in history and the only one to do so as an active player. James has made a minimum of $31 million every season since 2017 and is making $47.6 million in 2023-24 with the Lakers. James also has a player option worth $51.4 million waiting for him in 2024-25 should he choose to take it.
