Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s signing of his monstrous four-year, $285 million supermax extension for NBA finals champions Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday makes him the highest paid player by average annual value (AAV) in American sports.
With a $212 million three-year extension also on the table for Nikola Jokic – potentially taking his AAV to just shy of SGA’s whopping $71.25 million per year – a further reshuffling of America’s biggest sporting contracts in the near future certainly seems on the cards.
Here are the top 10 current biggest sports contracts in America by average annual value.
10. Nikola Jokic – NBA – $55,224,526
In July 2022, three-time MVP winner and 2023 Finals champion Jokic signed a five-year supermax contract with the Denver Nuggets worth over $260 million – the most valuable in NBA history at the time.
The Serbian superstar recorded the third highest points per game of the 2024-25 regular season at 29.6, and second most assists per game with 10.2.
Jokic also looks set to sign a three-year extension valued at $212 million, which would shoot him up to second on this list with a potential AAV of $70.67 million.
Nikola Jokic $212 million extension could see him become America’s second highest paid star
9. Jimmy Butler – NBA – $55,479,612
Having declined a player option with Miami Heat for 2025-26, Butler instead signed for the Golden State Warriors in the middle of last season on a two-year extension to the end of the 2026-27 season.
The 35-year-old’s maximum-veteran extension will see him earn just over $110 million in just two seasons at the Warriors, making him the eighth highest earner in America by AAV despite his contract having the lowest overall value of anyone on this list.
Jimmy Butler III completed switch from Miami to become Warriors number 10 in February
8. Jaylen Brown – NBA – $57,078,728
The Boston Celtics star signed a five-year super-max extension worth an overall value of over $285 million in July of 2023, superseding Jokic’s $260 million contract to become the most valuable in NBA history.
In the 2024-25 regular season, Brown averaged 22.2 points and rumors are now circulating of a potential trade away from the Celtics for the four-time All-Star and 2024 Championship winner.
Celtics number seven Brown has been linked with a trade away from the 2024 champions
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo – NBA – $58,456,566
Giannis signed a three-year contract extension valued at over $175 million with the Milwaukee Bucks in October of 2023, with a player-option in place for the 2027-28 season.
The power forward averaged 30.4 points per game last season, making it three consecutive seasons averaging over 30 points. The 2019 and 2020 MVP placed second in the regular season behind only SGA for points per game,
Back-to-back MVP in 2019 and 2020, Giannis’ contract extension keeps him at the Bucks for at least another two seasons
6. Anthony Davis – NBA – $58,456,566
The 10 time All-Star and 2019-20 champion with the LA Lakers signed a contract in August of 2023 almost identical to that of Giannis, worth over $175 million in total value. This has made him the joint sixth highest paid sportsperson in America by AAV.
Following a trade for Luka Dončić in Feb 2025, Davis is now under contract with the Dallas Mavericks until 2028 with a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Anthony Davis became a Mavs player midway through last season after massive trade away from the Lakers
5. Dak Prescott – NFL – $60,000,000
The 31-year-old quarterback is the highest-paid player in the NFL having signed a four-year, $240 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys in September of 2024 that sees him earn $60 million a year for the next four seasons.
Three-time Pro-Bowl selection Prescott missed the final 10 games of last season having torn his hamstring against the Atlanta Falcons in week nine, Prescott will hope to return to his best ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Injury kept Prescott on the sidelines for much of last season but the NFL’s highest paid star will look to find his old form in 2025-26
4. Jayson Tatum – NBA – $62,786,682
Having signed a five-year extension with the Boston Celtics in 2024, the six-time NBA all-star will bring home what is the most valuable overall contract in the league.
The 27-year-old will be earning a total $313,933,410 across the next five seasons, making him the third highest paid player annually in the NBA.
Jayson Tatum will look to add a second Championship ring next season as he enters the first year of his $313 million contract
3. Joel Embiid – NBA – $64,302,336
Despite missing 59 games last season due to injury, the Philadelphia 76ers center will bring home the highest annual pay check of any American sportsman as part of a three-year veteran extension from 2026-2028.
Having missed much of last season due to injury and playing only 19 games for the 76ers, Embiid will aim to return to his usual consistent form which saw him average over 30 points per game from 2021-2023 as he enters his contract extension.
Despite missing the majority of the season through injury, Embiid will still secure a cool $64 million annual salary as he enters his 3 year extension in 2026
2. Shotei Ohtani – MLB – $70,000,000
The league’s biggest star ended the 2023 season as free agent having seen out his contract with LA Angels and in 2024 made the move to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani signed on a 10-year contract worth a whopping $700 million making him far and away the highest paid player annually in the MLB.
Despite injury last season putting ‘Shotime’ out of pitching action and hindering his usual two-way ability, Ohtani has still managed to hit 30+ home runs across the last five successive seasons.
Having been hampered last season with injury, Ohtani has returned to pitching with the beginning of the new MLB season, at the end of which he will pocket $70 million
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – NBA – $71,351,448
Having signed a 4-year supermax extension worth over $285 million with Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ‘SGA’ is set to become the highest-paid player by AAV in league and American sports history.
Undoubtably the standout star of last season, ‘SGA’ averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 in the NBA Finals as he became only the fourth player in history to secure the triple crown of the NBA championship and both regular season and finals MVP awards.
‘SGA’ lifted the Bill Russell NBA finals MVP trophy following his record breaking 2024-25 season, which will see him become the highest paid athlete in America annually
