Predicting the 12 Biggest NBA Contracts over the Next 5 Years

Staggered by the $62.6 million Steph Curry will earn with the Golden State Warriors for a single season (2026-27)? How about Jayson Tatum's $314 million extension with the Boston Celtics?

Just wait for the massive figures to come over the next five years. The NBA's new broadcast deal will push the salary cap up the maximum 10 percent allowed annually, and star players will get increasingly gigantic contracts.

The following list predicts the biggest NBA deals to come over the next five years:

The current season has a salary cap of $140.6 million, with maximum salaries ranging from $35.1 million to $49.2 million, depending on a player's years of experience.

A player with full rights can re-sign for up to 105 percent of their prior salary, which is how Curry earns well above the max.

The list covers 2024-25 through 2028-29. It excludes players who just signed recent massive extensions, such as Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, etc.

Predictions will make assumptions, such as Devin Booker extending when eligible instead of waiting until 2028 to sign a five-year, $418 million contract as a free agent.

Those coming off their rookie-scale contract (former first-round picks) can extend for up to 30 percent of the cap but need quality for that bump above the standard 25 percent. Similarly, veterans with 7-8 years of experience who weren't traded after their fourth year and qualify can jump early from 30 percent of the cap to 35 percent. In both cases, extensions can add (including existing seasons) up to six total years instead of the standard five.

Finally, the Over-38 Rule can limit the number of years a player can sign for, like Curry (36), whose recent extension could add only one year for a total of three seasons.

Player: Joel Embiid
Prediction: $192.9 million for three years
Starting season salary: $59.5 million (2026-27)

The Philadelphia 76ers invested heavily this offseason, adding Paul George and re-signing Tyrese Maxey. Does that investment make sense if Joel Embiid doesn't feel valued or taken care of by the franchise?

Of course, he's still owed $165.7 million (player option before 2026-27)—shouldn't that make him feel appreciated? However, being a player in the NBA is a business, and Embiid can void his option and lock in three additional seasons at $192.9 million.

Another path could see the 30-year-old waiting until next summer to add four years, $266.7 million, but then he's trusting that the Sixers will pay that following July.

Most of these predictions anticipate players taking the money sooner instead of waiting. There's just too much guaranteed salary at stake, and if they stay at an elite level, they'll get those additional years in their next deal.

Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokić
Prediction: $212.2 million for three years
Starting season salary: $65.5 million (2027-28)

The three All-Star big men can extend in the same year to the same figures.

Antetokounmpo (29) of the Milwaukee Bucks and Davis (31) of the Los Angeles Lakers will earn $58.5 million for 2026-27, with player options for 2027-28 at $62.79 million. Jokić (29) of the Denver Nuggets is slightly higher at $59 million and $62.84 million.

All three can void their options years and extend next summer, adding three additional seasons each, starting at $65.5 million for a total of $212.2 million.

By waiting a year, extending during the 2026-27 season, those numbers can grow to $293.4 million for Davis over four years (limited by the Over-38 Rule) and $379.9 million for Antetokounmpo and Jokić for five.

Player: De'Aaron Fox
Prediction: $228.6 million for four years
Starting season salary: $51 million (2026-27)

Fox's next contract with the Sacramento Kings would start in the second max tier (7-9 years of service), but he can jump to the higher tier if he qualifies. His best chance is probably via one of the All-NBA teams, which only applies if he stays with the Kings.

The one-time All-Star guard is already extension-eligible to add three seasons, but it appears he'll wait at least a year. His projection is $228 million over four, but earning All-NBA this season could push his extension to $345.3 million over five.

Player: Devin Booker
Prediction: $233.4 million for three years
Starting season salary: $72 million (2028-29)

Booker still has four years under contract with the Phoenix Suns but can add three more before the 2026-27 campaign starts.

The 27-year-old is one of the youngest players on the list and should still be one of the league's top-scoring guards over the next several years.

Booker's giant starting salary reflects the NBA salary cap climbing 10 percent each season.

Players: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren
Prediction: $246.7 million for five years
Starting season salary: $246.7 million (2026-27)

The top two picks from the 2022 NBA draft haven't disappointed.

Banchero was an All-Star for the Orlando Magic as a sophomore. After missing his initial rookie year due to a foot injury, Holmgren was a significant part of why the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the top seed in the Western Conference. Both teams returned to the playoffs; large rookie-scale extensions seem inevitable.

Also, assume Banchero and Holmgren get 30 percent language in their extensions, pushing them up to $296 million if met by earning Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year or one of the three All-NBA teams.

Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell
Prediction: $293.4 million for four years
Starting season salary: $65.5 million (2027-28)

Gilgeous-Alexander improves every year, as do the Oklahoma City Thunder, who jumped from the lottery to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference before falling in the second round to the Mavericks.

The two-time All-Star earned All-NBA first-team honors the past two seasons, making him "supermax" eligible, though he has to wait until he has seven years of service to extend.

Mitchell just extended with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he can get back to free agency by opting out of his final year (2027-28). The timing is perfect for him to get paid at the top tier (10 years of service),

While Gilgeous-Alexander can wait until 2026 to extend for the full five additional years at $379.9 million, that assumes he still qualifies and is willing to let a massive payday go potentially unclaimed. Instead, expect him to add four seasons next summer (six total with his existing contract through 2026-27) at $293.4 million.

Pencil in Mitchell, as well, with another extension in two years, adding four seasons for almost $300 million. He could also wait for $379.9 million, but an extension is likelier.

While Gilgeous-Alexander is only eligible with the Thunder, Mitchell can sign anywhere as a free agent to the same starting salary, but for four years with five percent raises (instead of eight) at $281.6 million.

Player: Victor Wembanyama
Prediction: $325.6 million for five years
Starting season salary: $56.1 million (2027-28)

While the assumption is that Banchero and Holmgren do not reach the higher-tier max, it's not a reach to predict Wembanyama will do so over his next few seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.

Provided the current Rookie of the Year stays healthy, he will be a significant problem for the rest of the NBA.

At a minimum, put him on the All-NBA third team—but if he doesn't qualify, his extension will drop to $271.3 million.

Player: Luka Dončić
Prediction: $345.3 million for five years
Starting season salary: $59.5 million (2026-27)

Dončić is already eligible for the "supermax" extension as a regular on the All-NBA first team with the Dallas Mavericks. He can't sign it until next season, when he has seven years of service. By voiding his player option in 2026-27, he can add five seasons at $345.3 million.

The 25-year-old is only eligible for the higher max and the extra year with the Mavs and should earn the largest NBA contract over the next five years.

Several players could join the "max" club and rival others on the list. Some, like Ja Morant (injuries, off-court issues) and Zion Williamson (injuries), are slightly more debatable than the top 12.

If Duke prospect Cooper Flagg proves to be the next star entering the league through the draft, enough to earn an All-NBA nod in his fourth season with an accompanying extension at 30 percent of the cap, he'd be looking at a $358.2 million extension.

Others worth mentioning include Alperen Şengün (who is extension-eligible this summer), Jalen Brunson (2028-29), Domantas Sabonis (2028-29), Darius Garland (2028-29), Rudy Gobert (2025-26 or 2026-27) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (2026-27).

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.