30 NBA Players Who Were Grossly Overpaid
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No athlete is truly overpaid, but these basketball players are close.
The list of the 30 most overpaid NBA players is a collection of other-worldly talents who for some reason didn’t quite live up to their paychecks. It might be their lack of championship pedigree. An injury may have derailed their career. Or a foolish owner may have simply given them a terrible contract.
Whatever the case, the 30 most overpaid players in NBA history are listed below. Disagree? Feel free to let us hear about it.
30. Chris Paul
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Position: Guard
Years: 16 seasons (2005-present)
Teams: New Orleans Hornets (2005-11), Los Angeles Clippers (2011-17), Houston Rockets (2017-19), Phoenix Suns (2019-present)
Career earnings: $259,149,109
Career statistics: 1,090 G, 18.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 8.9 APG, .472 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 24.9
* All stats are via Basketball Reference, and all earnings are as of 2020.
Bottom Line: Chris Paul
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Paul is a lock to go to the Basketball Hall of Fame, and truth be told much of his playoff failure has been due to surrounding talent. So, why is he on this list? Because he’s the second highest paid player in the history of the NBA(only LeBron James has made more money).
Is Paul great? Absolutely. Should he be one of the highest paid players in the history of the sport? Not even close.
29. John Wall
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Position: Guard
Years: 10 seasons (2010-present)
Teams: Washington Wizards (2010-20), Houston Rockets (2020-present)
Career earnings: $147,038,665
Career statistics: 613 G, 19.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, .431 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 19.1
Bottom Line: John Wall
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Wall has been a great player, but at age 30, it appears he’s on the downside of his career, which has coincided with a four-year, $171 million contract in Washington — and a lost 2019-20 season, where he didn’t play a game.
The deal was offloaded on Houston, who likely will buy him out this summer, which means Wall will likely get another new contract from a team in need of a scorer.
28. Rashard Lewis
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Position: Forward
Years: 17 seasons (1998-14)
Teams: Seattle Supersonics (1998-07), Orlando Magic (2007-10), Washington Wizards (2010-12), Miami Heat (2012-14)
Career earnings: $155,332,815
Career statistics: 1,049 G, 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 16.8
Bottom Line: Rashard Lewis
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Lewis, like some on the list, had a solid career with a pair of All-Star Game appearances and an NBA championship with Miami to his name. But he appears on the list due to the six-year, $118 million contract he signed with Orlando in 2007.
Lewis lasted just four years in Orlando, averaging about 16 points per game while his stats diminished every season, and he was dealt for Gilbert Arenas after the 2009-10 season.
27. Al Horford
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Position: Forward
Years: 14 seasons (2007-present)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks (2007-16), Boston Celtics (2016-19), Philadelphia 76ers (2019-20), Oklahoma City Thunder (2020-present)
Career earnings: $188,728,232
Career statistics: 881 G, 13.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, .517 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 18.7
Bottom Line: Al Horford
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Horford has signed three $60-plus million contracts through his decade-and-a-half career in the NBA. He had a standout tenure in Atlanta, but things went south after he signed a max deal with the Celtics in 2016.
He left Boston after averaging 13.5 points per game, then signed a four-year, $97 million contract with Philadelphia, lasting just one season there. He was traded to Oklahoma City in the 2020 offseason, where he played just 28 games before he was shut down due to injury.
26. Brian Grant
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Position: Forward
Years: 12 seasons (1994-06)
Teams: Sacramento Kings (1994-97), Portland Trail Blazers (1997-00), Miami Heat (2000-04), Los Angeles Lakers (2004-05), Phoenix Suns (2005-06).
Career earnings: $109,842,052
Career statistics: 756 G, 10.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, .490 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 14.9
Bottom Line: Brian Grant
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Grant was a solid defender and rebounder throughout his NBA career and showed offensive prowess in both Sacramento and Portland. That earned him a seven-year, $86 million contract from the Heat in 2000.
Although Grant enjoyed a standout first season in South Florida, he and the Heat cratered in the early 2000s, including the 2002-03 season when Grant was the third highest paid player on a 25-57 team.
25. Juwan Howard
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Position: Forward
Years: 19 seasons (1994-13)
Teams: Washington Bullets/Wizards (1994-01), Dallas Mavericks (2001-02, 2007-08), Denver Nuggets (2002-03, 2008), Orlando Magic (2003-04), Houston Rockets (2004-07), Minnesota Timberwolves (2007), Charlotte Bobcats (2008-09), Portland Trail Blazers (2009-10), Miami Heat (2010-13)
Career earnings: $151,465,633
Career statistics: 1,208 G, 13.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, .469 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 14.6
Bottom Line: Juwan Howard
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A member of the famed Fab Five at Michigan, Howard was a two-time NBA champion and one-time all-NBA performer.
But he’s on the list because he was one of the league’s 10 highest paid players in six of his nineteen seasons — comparable with guys like Michael Jordan, Shaq and Kevin Garnett — when he was never near that good of a player.
24. Allan Houston
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Position: Guard
Years: 12 seasons (1993-05)
Teams: Detroit Pistons (1993-96), New York Knicks (1996-05)
Career earnings: $117,556,500
Career statistics: 839 G, 17.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, .444 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 14.9
Bottom Line: Allan Houston
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It pains us, as childhood Knicks fans, to put one of our favorite players and one of the integral pieces of the team’s 1999 NBA Finals run here, but the facts are what they are.
Houston was among the highest paid players in basketball for much of the early-2000s but made just two All-Star Game appearances and became a drain on the Knicks’ salary cap — particularly since he was hampered by a knee injury in his final two seasons that ultimately led to his retirement at age 34.
23. Luol Deng
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Position: Guard
Years: 15 seasons (2004-19)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (2004-14), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014), Miami Heat (2014-16), Los Angeles Lakers (2016-18), Minnesota Timberwolves (2018-19)
Career earnings: $156,461,551
Career statistics: 902 G, 14.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, .456 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 15.4
Bottom Line: Luol Deng
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Deng is beloved in Chicago, and he was one of their leading scorers in their return to prominence in the late-2000s and early 2010s. So, why is he on the list?
Because the Lakers gave him a four-year, $72 million contract in 2016 — that they’re still presently paying off — for just 57 games of Deng’s services. Deng was bought out by the Lakers after he was benched and subsequently bought out to give more playing time to younger players.
22. Jayson Williams
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Position: Forward
Years: 9 seasons (1990-99)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1990-92), New Jersey Nets (1992-99)
Career earnings: $63,050,000
Career statistics: 475 G, 7.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, .440 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 15.1
Bottom Line: Jayson Williams
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Williams was a competent rebounder and rim protector but was a late bloomer, making his only All-Star appearance during the 1997-98 season with New Jersey. Unfortunately, a fluke injury, caused by a collision with Stephane Marbury, ended his career prematurely in the 1998-99 season.
Adding insult to injury was the fact Williams had just signed a six-year, $90 million contract less than three months before the injury.
21. Kenyon Martin
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Position: Forward
Years: 15 seasons (2000-15)
Teams: New Jersey Nets (2000-04), Denver Nuggets (2004-11), Los Angeles Clippers (2012), New York Knicks (2012-14), Milwaukee Bucks (2014-15)
Career earnings: $113,035,975
Career statistics: 757 G, 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, .483 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 15.0
Bottom Line: Kenyon Martin
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Martin was a solid complement to Jason Kidd during his four seasons in New Jersey, helping the Nets reach the Finals twice.
But, unfortunately, Martin sustained multiple leg injuries throughout his tenure in Denver — after signing a six-year, $83 million contract with the Nuggets — which damaged his career as an impact player and landed him on this list.
20. Harrison Barnes
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Position: Forward
Years: 10 seasons (2012-present)
Teams: Golden State Warriors (2012-16), Dallas Mavericks (2016-19), Sacramento Kings (2019-present)
Career earnings: $106,129,017
Career statistics: 670 G, 13.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, .452 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 13.5
Bottom Line: Harrison Barnes
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Barnes was a starter for the Warriors and helped the team reach the NBA Finals in consecutive seasons, including a championship in 2015. He signed a four-year, $94 million deal with Dallas after that season and led the Mavericks in scoring in two of his three seasons there.
But he couldn’t deliver more winning, and after he was traded to Sacramento — then signed a four-year, $85 million contract there — his production dropped from 19 points per game to about 16.
19. Tom Gugliotta
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Position: Forward
Years: 13 seasons (1992-05)
Teams: Washington Bullets (1992-94), Golden State Warriors (1994-95), Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-98), Phoenix Suns (1999-04), Utah Jazz (2004), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Atlanta Hawks (2005)
Career earnings: $80,594,535
Career statistics: 763 G, 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, .451 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 15.9
Bottom Line: Tom Gugliotta
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Gugliotta was a big part of the mid-90s Timberwolves teams, leading them in scoring — ahead of Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett — in 1996-97 when they made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
The Suns rewarded him with a six-year, $60 million contract, but his production in the desert cratered, and he averaged fewer than 10 points per game over his five seasons there.
18. Yinka Dare
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Position: Center
Years: 4 seasons (1994-98)
Teams: New Jersey Nets
Career earnings: $8,655,000
Career statistics: 110 G, 2.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.0 APG, .396 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 6.2
Bottom Line: Yinka Dare
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Dare is one of the worst busts in NBA history, with a historically terrible stat line — he had just four assists in his four-season career.
He’s only this low on the list because the Nets didn’t offer him a second contract, instead trading him to Orlando, which subsequently waived him in 1998.
17. Greg Oden
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Position: Center
Years: 3 seasons (2007-14)
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers (2007-12), Miami Heat (2013-14)
Career earnings: $24,322,868
Career statistics: 105 G, 8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, .574 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 18.7
Bottom Line: Greg Oden
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Oden’s career leaves many to wonder what could’ve been since injuries derailed what could’ve been a promising career.
But there’s no doubt that $231,646 per game played is one of the worst in NBA history, and even when the 7-footer was able to get on the floor, he was largely ineffective.
16. Eddy Curry
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Position: Center
Years: 11 seasons (2001-13)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (2001-05), New York Knicks (2005-11), Miami Heat (2011-12), Dallas Mavericks (2012-13)
Career earnings: $70,050,993
Career statistics: 527 G, 12.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, .545 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 15.9
Bottom Line: Eddy Curry
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Curry was a productive role player in Chicago before he was traded to the Knicks in the 2005 offseason. In New York, he had one breakout season, 2006-07, where he played 81 games and led the Knicks in scoring.
Unfortunately, as his salary continued to rise — amid a six-year, $60 million contract — so too did his weight, and his production plummeted. The Knicks later offloaded Curry — and two first-round picks — as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade in 2011.
15. Darko Milicic
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Position: Forward
Years: 6 seasons (2003-09)
Teams: Detroit Pistons (2003-06), Orlando Magic (2006-07), Memphis Grizzlies (2007-09), Minnesota Timberwolves (2009-12), Boston Celtics (2012-13)
Career earnings: $52,323,642
Career statistics: 468 G, 6.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, .460 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 12.3
Bottom Line: Darko Milicic
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Many will remember Milicic as one of the great busts in NBA history, who was chosen right after LeBron James and directly before Carmelo Anthony in 2003.
Milicic made roughly $111,000 per game and never averaged more than nine points or six rebounds per game for his six seasons in the NBA.
14. Gordon Hayward
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Position: Guard
Years: 11 seasons (2010-present)
Teams: Utah Jazz (2010-17), Boston Celtics (2017-20), Charlotte Hornets (2020-present)
Career earnings: $150,922,778
Career statistics: 685 G, 15.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, .453 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 17.5
Bottom Line: Gordon Hayward
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The Boston Celtics have a tendency to give out contracts like the one Hayward got — to the tune of four years and $127 million during the 2017 offseason.
Hayward’s freak injury cost him his first season in Boston, but he only started 71 games with the Celtics before he was part of another $100-plus million contract, this time a sign and trade with Charlotte, in the 2020 offseason. Someone give his agent a raise.
13. Michael Olowokandi
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Position: Center
Years: 10 seasons (1998-07)
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers (1998-03), Minnesota Timberwolves (2003-06), Boston Celtics (2006-07)
Career earnings: $37,906,690
Career statistics: 500 G, 8.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, .435 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 10.7
Bottom Line: Michael Olowokandi
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The top pick of the 1998 NBA draft never lived up to the advanced billing, thanks largely to knee injuries that kept him off the floor.
Olowokandi never received a wild payday largely because he never earned one but still remains one of the greatest busts in NBA Draft history, particularly since guys like Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce were chosen shortly after.
12. Kwame Brown
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Position: Guard
Years: 12 seasons (2001-13)
Teams: Washington Wizards (2001-05), Los Angeles Lakers (2005-08), Memphis Grizzlies (2008-10), Charlotte Bobcats (2010-11), Golden State Warriors (2011-12), Milwaukee Bucks (2012), Philadelphia 76ers (2012-13)
Career earnings: $63,992,853
Career statistics: 607 G, 6.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, .492 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 10.2
Bottom Line: Kwame Brown
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Brown, like Olowokandi, was a No. 1 overall pick who didn’t meet the hype, yet unlike Olowokandi, Brown continued to latch on for 12 full seasons in the NBA despite averaging double figures in scoring just one season, 2003-04.
Brown would tease fans and pundits with his potential yet received roughly $16,000 per point in the NBA.
11. Bryant Reeves
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Position: Center
Years: 6 seasons (1995-01)
Teams: Vancouver Grizzlies
Career earnings: $55,638,898
Career statistics: 395 G, 12.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, .475 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 13.8
Bottom Line: Bryant Reeves
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Big Country is widely considered an overwhelming bust, but his first three seasons weren’t actually terrible. In fact, his promising rookie campaign netted him a six-year, $61 million contract, and he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game over the subsequent two seasons.
Unfortunately, his weight ballooned, the injury bug hit, and he was out of the league after the 2000-01 season.
10. Ian Mahinmi
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Position: Forward
Years: 12 seasons (2007-20)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs (2007-10), Dallas Mavericks (2010-12), Indiana Pacers (2012-16), Washington Wizards (2016-20)
Career earnings: $83,789,796
Career statistics: 618 G, 5.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, .533 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 13.0
Bottom Line: Ian Mahinmi
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Mahinmi averaged a career-high nine points per game in 2015-16, just in time to become a free agent.
He cashed in with a four-year, $64 million contract from the Wizards, where he averaged just five points and four rebounds per game.
9. Darius Miles
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Position: Forward
Years: 8 seasons (2000-09)
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers (2000-02), Cleveland Cavaliers (2002-04), Portland Trail Blazers (2004-06), Memphis Grizzlies (2008-09)
Career earnings: $61,999,973
Career statistics: 446 G, 10.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, .472 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 13.9
Bottom Line: Darius Miles
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Miles was actually at his most productive when he was scoring less with the Clippers, but things all came unglued in Portland after the Trail Blazers signed him to a six-year, $48 million contract in the 2004 offseason.
Miles scored but feuded with coach Maurice Cheeks and only played 105 games in Portland before a catastrophic knee injury nearly ended his career. Unfortunately, Miles also blew through his entire $62 million fortune in less than six years.
8. Todd MacCulloch
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Position: Center
Years: 4 seasons (1999-03)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1999-01, 2002-03), New Jersey Nets (2001-02)
Career earnings: $27,953,375
Career statistics: 223 G, 6.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, .541 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 16.9
Bottom Line: Todd MacCulloch
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After MacCulloch helped the 76ers to the Finals in 2001, the Nets signed him to a six-year, $33 million contract that even he couldn’t believe New Jersey offered. MacCulloch helped New Jersey also reach the Finals in 2002 — before Shaq dominated the Canadian big man during a sweep — and the Nets traded him back to Philadelphia with Keith Van Horn for Dikembe Mutombo that offseason.
Unfortunately, a foot ailment kept MacCulloch from earning the full scale of his deal and forced him to retire early.
7. Bismack Biyombo
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Position: Center
Years: 10 seasons (2011-present)
Teams: Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets (2011-15, 2018-present), Toronto Raptors (2015-16), Orlando Magic (2016-18)
Career earnings: $83,729,278
Career statistics: 702 G, 5.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, .527 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 13.0
Bottom Line: Bismack Biyombo
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The Magic blew out their bank to sign Biyombo in the 2016 offseason, giving a four-year, $72 million contract. Biyombo lasted just two seasons in Orlando, averaging about six points and six rebounds per game in about 20 minutes per night.
He was traded back to Charlotte in 2018, where he signed a more modest one-year, $3.5 million contract in 2020.
6. Chandler Parsons
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Position: Guard
Years: 9 seasons (2011-20)
Teams: Houston Rockets (2011-14), Dallas Mavericks (2014-16), Memphis Grizzlies (2016-19), Atlanta Hawks (2019-20)
Career earnings: $127,164,773
Career statistics: 440 G, 12.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, .462 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 14.7
Bottom Line: Chandler Parsons
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Parsons was a solid player in both Houston and Dallas, averaging double digits in points while starting 324 of his first 340 games.
But injuries derailed Parsons’ promising career after he signed a four-year, $94 million contract with Memphis, where he played just 95 games. His career unfortunately ended when he sustained a concussion after his car was hit by a drunk driver in 2020.
5. Jon Koncak
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Position: Center
Years: 11 seasons (1985-96)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1985-95), Orlando Magic (1995-96)
Career earnings: $18,325,250
Career statistics: 784 G, 4.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, .470 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 9.8
Bottom Line: Jon Koncak
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Koncak became known as “Jon Contract” thanks to the albatross, six-year, $13 million contract the Hawks matched when Koncak reached free agency in 1989. The deal was made worse by the fact Koncak was a reserve in Atlanta, and the Hawks decided to match the deal the Detroit Pistons offered.
It’s not Koncak’s fault he got the deal, but he only averaged 21 minutes per game through his career and never reached the All-Star Game, despite being one of the highest paid players in the game.
4. Evan Turner
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Position: Guard/Forward
Years: 10 seasons (2010-20)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (2010-14), Indianapolis Pacers (2014-16), Portland Trail Blazers (2016-19), Atlanta Hawks (2019-20),
Career earnings: $98,227,018
Career statistics: 705 G, 9.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, .434 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 11.9
Bottom Line: Evan Turner
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Turner was an All-American at Ohio State and the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft, then bounced between three teams before signing a four-year, $70 million with Portland. Turner lasted just 217 games with the Blazers and averaged just eight points per game while mostly coming off the bench.
Turner became an assistant with the Celtics after announcing his retirement in November 2020.
3. Danny Ferry
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Position: Guard
Years: 13 seasons (1990-03)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1990-00), San Antonio Spurs (2000-03)
Career earnings: $44,243,000
Career statistics: 917 G, 7.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, .446 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 11.8
Bottom Line: Danny Ferry
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Ferry was one of the best players in the country coming out of Duke University but decided to start his pro career in Italy instead of playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Maybe Ferry would’ve ended up less of a bust in L.A.
Instead, he signed a 10-year contract with the Cavaliers, where he largely underwhelmed on teams that underachieved. Ferry still won a championship with the Spurs in 2003 after he signed in San Antonio as a free agent.
2. Jim McIlvane
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Position: Center
Years: 7 seasons (1994-01)
Teams: Washington Bullets (1994-96), Seattle Supersonics (1996-98), New Jersey Nets (1998-01)
Career earnings: $32,125,000
Career statistics: 401 G, 2.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.3 APG, FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 10.0
Bottom Line: Jim McIlvane
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The Seattle Supersonics gave McIlvane a seven-year, $33.6 million contract to lure him away from Washington. The contract rankled Sonics fans and star Shawn Kemp, and within two seasons, they had dumped the contract on New Jersey, where he was largely injured.
He never averaged more than 15 minutes per game during his NBA career and made about $30,000 per point scored.
1. DeSagna Diop
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Position: Center
Years: 12 seasons (2001-13)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-05), Dallas Mavericks (2005-08, 2009), New Jersey Nets (2008), Charlotte Bobcats (2009-13)
Career earnings: $47,024,084
Career statistics: 601 G, 2.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.4 APG, .427 FG%
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 9.8
Bottom Line: DeSagna Diop
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You’d think a 7-footer who played 600-plus NBA games could’ve averaged more than four rebounds per game. Diop showed promise, especially as a defensive specialist, but he’s No. 1 on this list thanks largely to the six-year, $32 million contract he signed with Dallas in 2009.
Diop lasted less than one season with the Mavs but finished the deal in Charlotte, therefore playing almost the entire contract.