Where LeBron James ranks among 10 biggest single-season pay cuts in NBA history

LeBron James has come to be known for a lot of things over his illustrious NBA career. The 2003 first overall pick is entering his 24th season played, by far the most in NBA history. Along the way, he has set numerous records, including the scoring record (43,440) and the record for consecutive games with double-digit scoring marks (1,297). One more thing that The King is known for is the wealth he has amassed during his time in the NBA. James is first in NBA history in career earnings with $581,375,548 to his name, just from his NBA contracts.

The four-time MVP is clearly one of the greatest players in NBA history, so that wealth is well deserved. However, ahead of what could be his final season, The Chosen One took a different route in terms of his finances, opting for a minimum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers rather than his typical maximum contract.

It was a shocking move in the eyes of many and one that has Philadelphia well primed to chase an NBA championship. James’ new deal is for $7,946,884 over two years, which equates to just $3,876,529 during the 2026-27 season. That is quite the drop-off from the $52.63 million that James made last year. So, where does the 76ers’ newest star rank amongst the biggest season-to-season pay cuts in NBA history?

Note: Contract information is pulled from spotrac

10. Marc Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, -$23.04 million

Marc Gasol is perhaps best known for being the younger brother of Pau Gasol, and while the elder Spaniard may be more memorable because of his championship success, Marc had a pretty great career in his own right. Gasol entered the league in 2007 as a draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers, and he was eventually traded for his brother in a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The move worked out for both sides, as Pau won back-to-back championships with the Lakers, whereas the Grizzlies were rewarded with one of the best defenders in the NBA and a player who perfectly fit their mindset and play style. Paired with a fellow elite defender in Tony Allen, as well as hard-nosed players like Mike Conley and Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies were one of the most physically intimidating teams in the NBA. Their stifling defense was orchestrated down low by Gasol, who won the Defensive Player of the Year title in 2013.

Eventually, Gasol even developed a 3-point shot, and his 3-and-D skill set proved to be the missing piece for the Toronto Raptors. Toronto traded for Gasol during the same season in which they had acquired Kawhi Leonard ahead of. The Raptors then made it all the way to the NBA Finals, where they bested a Golden State Warriors team in the midst of a dynasty.

While Gasol’s style of play was coveted by Toronto, it was clear that he was in the twilight of his career by that point. The Spanish center lasted one more season in Toronto before he ended his career with the Lakers team that drafted him years prior. In LA, Gasol went from making $25.60 million to just $2.56 million, and it showed in how committed the Lakers were to him because his final season in the NBA was the only in which he played fewer than 20 minutes per game.

9. Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers, -$25.77 million

Carmelo Anthony is one of the best players ever without an NBA championship. His lone season at Syracuse was one of the best single seasons in college basketball history and resulted in a March Madness victory. Anthony also did lots of winning at the world stage and is one of the best players in Team USA history. His 28,289 career NBA points, which rank as the 11th most ever, never resulted in an NBA Finals victory, though.

Anthony is best known for time split between two franchises, the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks. However, in an effort to extend his career, he became somewhat of a journeyman later on. When is mid-range shot wasn’t as potent as it used to be, Anthony spent time during the twilight of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

The 2013 scoring champion saw his salary decrease by $25.77 million by the time he ended up with the Trail Blazers, a team he actually had a mini-resurgence with. He remained on the minimum deal until his retirement, and like Gasol, his last season came with a Lakers team that just couldn’t find the fountain of youth.

8. Otto Porter Jr., Golden State Warriors, -$26.10 million

While most of the players on this list of the biggest pay cuts in NBA history were stars who were forced to take big salary reductions toward the end of their careers, Otto Porter Jr. was never given the star label, but he was highly paid nonetheless. The third overall pick in a bad 2013 NBA Draft class, the goggle-wearing forward from Georgetown found his niche as a 3-and-D role player.

That role was much-needed on a Washington Wizards team led by John Wall, an explosive slasher who thrives getting downhill and kicking out to his teammates. Because of this, Porter was handed a four-year, $106.5 million deal during a 2017 offseason that was just one year removed from one of the biggest offseason spending sprees ever.

Eventually, Porter was traded to the Chicago Bulls, and during the same season, then to the Orlando Magic. When his contract came to a conclusion, Porter signed with the Warriors for just $2.389,641, which was a drop of over $26 million from the year prior. The pay cut paid off for Porter, though, as his long-range marksmanship fit in perfectly on a team led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Porter won the 2022 NBA Finals with the Warriors, extending one of the best dynasties in NBA history in the process.

7. Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers, -$26.35 million

Having one dominant skill set pays off in the NBA. While Andre Drummond has caught a lot of flak over the years for the frequency of his lowlights and the lack of skill he possesses as a scorer, he has always been one of the league’s best rebounders. In fact, Drummond led the NBA in that regard on four occasions.

His propensity for hitting the glass resulted in a five-year, $127 million deal from the Detroit Pistons. The hulking center finished out that deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, and his next contract, which came with the Philadelphia 76ers, was for just one year and $2,401,537.

This was the first of two stints with the 76ers, where he was tasked with backing up and frequently stepping in for the often injured Joel Embiid. Now, Drummond is signed with the New York Knicks, where he will overtake Mitchell Robinson’s role, who was one of the top backup fives in the NBA last season.

6. Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards, -$27.71 million

LeBron James and his new contract will be discussed later, but James wasn’t the only player to take a massive pay cut during the 2026 offseason. Khris Middleton also makes this list as his next contract will see a $27.71 reduction in salary, compared to the $33.3 million he made last season.

Middleton’s situation is made all the more weird because he is returning to a Washington Wizards team that traded him to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline last season. The Wizards are combining a youth movement that has seen them draft six first-round picks over the last three years with veteran additions. On top of bringing Middleton back, Washington will now be relying on Trae Young and Anthony Davis to lead the way.

Middleton is a three-time All-Star who has regressed significantly in recent years. He was the number two offensive option on a Milwaukee Bucks team that won the championship as recently as 2021. Now, he will struggle to earn minutes on a surprisingly deep Wizards team, but one that hasn’t won many games in recent years.

5. Kevin Love, Miami Heat, -$28.23 million

Kevin Love started his career as a double-double machine for the Minnesota Timberwolves. As his career progressed, though, he often had to sacrifice for the betterment of his teams. This was the case when Love teamed up with James on the Cavaliers, which forced the power forward into more of a stretch shooting role.

His sacrifices continued from a financial standpoint later on in his career. Love went from making $31.26 million to $3.03 million when he joined the Miami Heat. The five-time All-Star played last season with the Utah Jazz, but he is currently an unrestricted free agent. If he lands another contract, it will again be for the cheap.

4. Blake Griffin, Brooklyn Nets, -$29.49 million

Blake Griffin is a former number one overall pick, one of the best players in Los Angeles Clippers history, and a six-time All-Star. He played the game with ferocity and explosion, which is why he is one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history. However, his bruising style of play also led to a bunch of injuries and an early and short prime.

Griffin’s first five All-Star nods came during his first five seasons on the court. The leader of Lob City then spent the back half of his career splitting time between the hardwood and the trainer’s table. He did have a resurgence in 2018-19, as he averaged 24.5 points per game with the Detroit Pistons en route to his final All-Star appearance.

Injuries caused Griffin’s play to fall off significantly the next season, though, and he provided more leadership and smiles than high-leaping dunks during his final few years. By the time he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, Griffin was making almost $30 million less than he had the year prior.

3. John Wall, Los Angeles Clippers, -$37.83 million

Explosive leaping and interior finishing clearly doesn’t have the longevity of other skill sets in the NBA. Like Griffin, John Wall was an absolute athlete, but the strains that he put on his body resulted in a rapid decline highlighted by injury issues.

Wall was inked to a four-year, $171 million deal with the Wizards, but he missed two seasons while playing out that contract. In 2019-20, a ruptured achilles cost him his season, and two years, later a rebuilding Houston Rockets team held him out as they prioritized developing their young players.

After that, Wall was given one final chance with the Clippers, who signed him for $13.2 million over two seasons. He only played the first of those two years before his NBA career came to a close.

2. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers, -$43.23 million

Russell Westbrook has nine All-Star appearances and an MVP to his name. He has twice led the NBA in scoring and thrice in assists. Brodie is the triple-doubles king, too. Despite all of that success, teams have been hesitant to invest in Westbrook in the years since his Thunder days.

The former MVP usually has to wait until late into the offseason for a team to sign him, and after being highly paid earlier in his career, the all-time great point guard tends to agree to minimum contracts these days. Despite this, Westbrook still performs at a high level, as he has exceeded expectations in recent years with the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings.

Once signed to a deal worth over $200 million with an average annual value of $41 million, Westbrook saw an insane pay reduction in 2022 when he signed for $784,914 with the Clippers. His pay was reduced by $43.23 million from one year to the next.

1. LeBron James, Philadelphia 76ers, -$48.75

LeBron James’ “decision” in 2010 to join the Heat was the biggest moment in free agent history. His 2026 free agency spectacle wasn’t too far behind, though. After hearing out offers from the entire league, James ended up choosing the 76ers, a team that was likely out of the picture before they traded for Jaylen Brown.

Now, Philadelphia is loaded with stars. On top of Brown and James, the 76ers have Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe. They also landed Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, the latter of whom was one of the steals of free agency. With all of that talent on the roster, it took James accepting a $48.75 million pay cut and the minimum contract to make the money work.

Of course, James didn’t need yet another max deal, as he is already a billionaire. Chasing one final ring before retirement was what The King wanted, and the 76ers offered him a better chance than any other team to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy one final time, even though it means taking the biggest pay cut in NBA history.