The National Basketball Association (NBA) is home to some of the most lucrative contracts in sports. This article will explore the six largest contracts in NBA history, their associated players, and the factors that influenced their negotiation.

Nikola Jokić, Bradley Beal, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, and Karl-Anthony Towns are the five players who signed the six largest contracts in the league’s history.

In addition, the individual performances, team needs, and market conditions that contributed to the negotiation of these contracts will be discussed.

The article will also analyze the betting odds for the 2023 NBA MVP and the 2023 NBA Championship, and how they relate to the teams of the players who signed these contracts.

Overview of Contracts

The six biggest contracts in NBA history involve five players and one athlete from another sport, with the amounts and types of contracts varying depending on individual performance, team needs, and market conditions.

Nikola Jokić signed the largest in NBA history, a 5-year, $270 million deal with the Denver Nuggets.

Bradley Beal followed this up with a 5-year, $261 million supermax contract with the Washington Wizards.

Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a 5-year, $228.2 million designated veteran player extension with the Milwaukee Bucks and James Harden signed a 5-year, $228 million contract with the Houston Rockets.

Karl-Anthony Towns signed a 4-year, $224 million supermax contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lionel Messi has the highest-paid contract in all sports, a 4-year, $674 million deal with FC Barcelona.

NBA salaries have grown significantly since 1991, with a dip in 2008 due to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Player Performances

Notable players have achieved impressive performances during the season, resulting in high-paid contracts.

Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets was the highest-paid player in NBA history, signing a 5-year, $270,000,000 deal. He was ranked #1 in PER (32.94) last season and is a favorite to win the 2023 NBA MVP.

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards signed a 5-year, $261,000,000 supermax contract. He averaged 23.2 ppg and 6.6 apg last season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks was also highly-paid, signing a 5-year, $228,200,830 designated veteran player extension. His 29.9 ppg and 11.6 rpg led the Bucks to an NBA title.

James Harden of the Houston Rockets, now playing for the 76ers, signed a 5-year, $228,000,000 contract. He averaged 22.0 ppg, 10.3 apg, and 7.7 rpg last season.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves tied with Devin Booker for the 5th-largest NBA contract, signing a 4-year, $224,000,000 supermax contract.

Contract Details

Nikola Jokić signed a 5-year, $270,000,000 deal with the Denver Nuggets, the longest contract in the league, until 2028.

The other five biggest contracts in the NBA are:

  1. Bradley Beal, 5-year, $261,000,000 supermax contract with the Washington Wizards.

  2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 5-year, $228,200,830 designated veteran player extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.

  3. James Harden, 5-year, $228,000,000 contract with the Houston Rockets (now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers).

  4. Karl-Anthony Towns, 4-year, $224,000,000 supermax contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

These contracts include specific salary amounts, length of contract, and type of contract. For example, Jokić’s contract is a designated veteran player extension, Beal’s is a supermax contract extension, and Antetokounmpo’s is also a designated veteran player extension.