By Yannis Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
“Money makes the world go round,” as the saying goes — and it applies to basketball, too. Some teams spend lavishly, while the competition can only watch helplessly.
And basketball fans? Wide-eyed at the staggering sums being handed out. Eurohoops presents the most expensive contracts in EuroLeague history – and beyond.
Please note that ranking is based on annual salaries in U.S. dollars, with amounts also listed in euros.
4. Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos)
There aren’t many transfers in history that have proven to be so game-changing. There aren’t many like Kendrick Nunn.
Panathinaikos convinced him in 2023 to cross the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, and he immediately delivered. First, by winning the EuroLeague championship and then being named EuroLeague MVP.
Agreeing to a three-year extension until 2028, without an NBA out, he will be earning at least €13,500,000, estimated between €4,500,000 and $5,200,000 per year.
3. Vasilije Micic (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
The return of Vasilije Micic to Europe was one of the most acclaimed series of the summer of 2025.
Returning after his three-team (Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Phoenix) experience in the NBA, he made a shocking move to Hapoel Tel Aviv, becoming one of the best-paid players ever in Europe.
The Israeli side locked the deal on a three-year agreement worth €14,000,000, excluding stock options.
The amount in dollars reaches $16,200,000, or $5,400,000 per year, making Vasilije Micic the third highest-paid player in history.
2. Nikola Mirotic (Barcelona)
Despite being a more than valuable asset in the NBA, where he played for several years with Chicago, New Orleans, and Milwaukee, Nikola Mirotic returned to Europe in 2019.
Barcelona signed him for a deal that reached $20,000,000 through 2023 — a contract that was fully completed. His escalating salary reached up to $5,500,000.
Together, they celebrated two ACB League titles (2021, 2023) and two Copa del Rey trophies (2021, 2022).
Moreover, he was named EuroLeague MVP in 2022, averaging 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 24:25 minutes per game.
1. Josh Childress (Olympiacos)
It was the time when Olympiacos was searching for a player to win everything again, having last lifted a trophy in 2002 with the Greek Cup and last appeared in a EuroLeague Final Four back in 1999.
Enter Josh Childress, who had averaged 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals over 285 games with the Atlanta Hawks (2004-08), selected with the 6th overall pick in the Draft.
Enter also more than $20,000,000 into the American player0s bank account – or at least that’s what the deal from 2009 to 2012 was valued at, even though they only worked together for two out of those three years. His annual salary of $7,000,000 still makes him the highest-paid player in history.
Together, they celebrated only the 2010 Greek Cup win, though they reached the EuroLeague Final Four both years. He put up 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32:20 minutes per game on the way to a runner-up finish in 2010.