NBA is back: Here are this season's highest-paid stars (and one major exception)

The 2026/27 NBA season gets underway this Tuesday at 8:00 PM with tip-off between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. It marks the first of 1,230 regular-season games scheduled through April, when the playoffs begin. The reigning champion New York Knicks will take on the Philadelphia 76ers at midnight.

With the league's return comes the parade of multimillionaire superstars lighting up the hardwood throughout the year. In this multi-billion-dollar showcase, seasoned veterans continue to lead the salary charts. However, the oldest player of all took the opposite path: at 41 years old (turning 42 in December), LeBron James ended his tenure with the Lakers, signed with the 76ers, and accepted the league minimum—around €3.5 million—to reduce his cap hit and give Philadelphia greater roster depth in pursuit of his fifth championship ring.

Check out the highest-paid players in the NBA for the 2026/27 season below.