Average NBA salaries have skyrocketed over the past decade, let alone in the last 30 years.
For proof, consider that in 1990-91, the NBA’s highest-paid player, Patrick Ewing, earned $4.3 million. This season, the highest-paid player, Stephen Curry, makes $45.8 million.
The median salary, as in the middle salary between the highest- and lowest-paid players in the league, has grown too, although nowhere near to the same extent. That’s mostly because more guys play in the NBA in recent years because of G League call ups and two-way contracts, which gives us way more players with low salaries.
Below, check out the median salaries since 1990-91.
1990-91: Alexander Volkov
Rick Stewart /Allsport
Salary: $650,000
1991-92: Nick Anderson
Andy Lyons /Allsport
Salary: $750,000
1992-93: Duane Ferrell
Allsport /Allsport
Salary: $825,000
1993-94: Nick Van Exel
Salary: $1,100,000
1994-94: Jayson Williams
Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images
Salary: $1,100,000
1995-96: Terrell Brandon
Doug Pensinger /Allsport
Salary: $1,155,000
1996-97: Sam Cassell
Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT
Salary: $1,235,000
1997-98: Gary Trent
Photo by PAUL BUCK / AFP
Salary: $1,329,009
1998-99: Jason Williams
Doug Pensinger /Allsport
Salary: $1,460,000
1999-00: Lorenzo Williams
DAVID MURRAY JR./AFP via Getty Images
Salary: $1,540,000
2000-01: Steve Kerr
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Salary: $2,200,000
2001-02: Larry Hughes
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Salary: $2,343,635
2002-03: Dajuan Wagner
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Salary: $2,298,840
2003-04: Chris Wilcox
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Salary: $2,066,760
2004-05: Antonio Daniels
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Salary: $2,200,000
2005-06: Eddie Griffin
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Salary: $2,500,000
2006-07: Andre Iguodala
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Salary: $2,201,640
2007-08: Andris Biedrins
Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Salary: $2,636,696
2008-09: Danilo Gallinari
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Salary: $2,873,520
2009-10: JJ Redick
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Salary: $2,839,408
2010-11: Nick Young
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Salary: $2,630,503
2011-12: DeShawn Stevenson
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Salary: $2,500,000
2012-13: Kemba Walker
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Salary: $2,532,960
2013-14: Chauncey Billups
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Salary: $2,500,000
2014-15: Reggie Jackson
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Salary: $2,325,680
2015-16: Trey Burke
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Salary: $2,658,240
2016-17: Dion Waiters
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Salary: $2,898,000
2017-18: Dario Saric
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Salary: $2,422,560
2018-19: DJ Wilson
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Salary: $2,534,280
2019-20: John Collins
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Salary: $2,686,560
2020-21: Goga Bitadze
Photo by Lauren Bacho/Getty Images
Salary: $2,957,520
2021-22: Victor Oladipo
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $2,389,641
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