Top 50 Paid NBA Players Who Were Never an All-Star

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $211,814,722

Tobias Harris is known primarily as a scorer who can play both forward spots. Harris made his best case for an All-Star selection during his age 26-28 seasons with the Clippers and 76ers, where he averaged 19.7 points on 48.9 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent from downtown with 7.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

Harris has cashed in twice during free agency despite never making an All-Star team, including a four-year, $64 million deal with the Magic in 2015 and a five-year, $180 million maximum contract with the 76ers in 2019.

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $197,164,814

Danilo Gallinari was the headline piece of the Carmelo Anthony trade for the New York Knicks. Since then, Gallinari has proven to be a versatile forward capable of scoring off the dribble and beyond the arc. However, he’s struggled to stay healthy during his career, including multiple ACL surgeries.

During his prime from age 27 to 31, Gallinari averaged 18.8 points on 39.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc and grabbed 5.4 rebounds per game.

Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images

Career earnings: $187,838,139

Nicolas Batum had a career year with the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, and then broke the bank by re-signing a five-year, $120 million contract with Charlotte in 2016.

During the final three years of his contract in Charlotte, Batum underwhelmed mightily, averaging 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $181,313,440

CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard formed one of the NBA’s top scoring backcourts together. However, McCollum was snubbed from the All-Star despite averaging over 20 points per game for eight straight seasons and counting with the Blazers and Pelicans.

While McCollum never earned an All-Star selection, Portland rewarded him with two separate $100 million deals, including a four-year, $106 million rookie extension in 2016 and a three-year, $100 million extension in 2019.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Career earnings:  $178,199,742

Whether starting or coming off the bench, Eric Gordon has been a bucket for most of his career. Gordon struggled with injuries, however, which limited his upside. Yet, when Gordon played most of the 2016-17 season, he won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

Gordon is coming off the largest contract of his career, a four-year, $75.6 million extension from the Houston Rockets.

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $178,120,665

Rudy Gay was a gifted scorer and highlight dunker during the prime of his career. From age 21-30, Gay averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Memphis gave Gay a five-year, $82 million contract for the biggest contract of his career.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Career earnings: $166,981,290

During high school and at North Carolina, Harrison Barnes had considerable hype. Throughout his career, he developed into a solid starting-caliber forward, averaging 14.2 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field, along with 5.0 rebounds per game.

Barnes has been handsomely paid three times during his career, including a four-year, $94.4 million offer sheet from Dallas, a four-year, $85 million deal with Sacramento, and a three-year, $54 million extension with Sacramento.

Justin Ford/Getty Images

Career earnings: $146,760,004

Steven Adams is regarded as one of the league’s toughest players who’ll control the paint with his rebounding, set bone-jarring screens on the perimeter to free up his teammates and dive on loose balls.

While his box score may not always jump off the page, those characteristics – along with his hustle and steady locker room presence – helped Adams land a four-year, $100 million contract from the Oklahoma City Thunder and other deals during his 10-year career.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Career earnings: $141,750,412

Serge Ibaka led the league in blocks in back-to-back seasons and was an All-Defensive Team selection three times before winning the championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

Toronto also gave Ibaka the biggest contract of his 14-year career, a three-year, $65 million deal. Ibaka recently signed with Bayern Munich.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Career earnings: $140,718,742

While Thaddeus Young’s stats aren’t All-Star caliber, Young has been a consistently versatile forward and a model citizen as a teammate in the locker room as he enters his 17th season.

From age 20-30, Young averaged 13.8 points on 49.9 percent shooting from the field with 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

Young has signed three notable contracts: a five-year, $44 million deal with the 76ers, a four-year, $54 million deal with the Nets, and a three-year, $41 million deal with the Bulls.

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $136,519,285

Al Jefferson was a dominant interior scorer and rebounder during his 14-year career. Jefferson averaged more than 21 points and 10 rebounds in three seasons. Jefferson also earned All-NBA honors during the 2013-14 season but never an All-Star selection while finishing in the lottery all but four seasons in his career.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $135,352,849

Marcus Camby was one of the best defensive centers in the league for many years. Camby won Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, was a four-time block champion, including three straight seasons, and was named to the All-Defensive Team four times.

Cole Burston/Getty Images

Career earnings: $134,220,040

Otto Porter signed a four-year, $106.5 million offer sheet with the Nets during restricted free agency, which the Wizards matched and has since bounced around, including winning a championship with the Warriors in 2022.

When healthy, a noteworthy asterisk in Porter’s career, he’s been an efficient floor spacer shooting 39.7 percent from downtown, alternating between both forward positions.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $132,775,609

Nenê was drafted No. 7 overall by the Knicks and traded immediately to the Nuggets with Marcus Camby in a blockbuster trade to bring Antonio McDyess to New York. The move was a bust for New York, but worked out well for Denver.

During his 17-year career, he averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds while securing a six-year, $60 million contract and a five-year, $67 million contract with the Nuggets.

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Career earnings: $131,217,769

During his 12-year career, Derrick Favors didn’t hit the ceiling of his potential but maximized his floor after being the third overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Favors was a durable player who peaked when he averaged 16.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during a two-year span in Utah.

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Career earnings: $129,340,553

Eric Bledsoe’s best years were with the Suns, averaging 18.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Bledsoe was also a two-time All-Defensive player who signed two separate $70 million deals in his career, a five-year contract with the Suns and a four-year contract with the Bucks.

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Career earnings: $128,147,705

Ricky Rubio entered the league with tons of hype coming over from Spain as the No. 5 pick of the 2009 NBA draft as a gifted passer. Despite never developing a consistent jumper, Rubio became an electric passer and pesky defender who scored enough to keep defenses honest and maintain his standing as a starting-caliber point guard through the prime of his career.

Rubio’s two big paydays came via a four-year, $55 million extension with the Timberwolves and the Suns, who signed him to a three-year, $51 million deal.

Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Career earnings: $127,164,774

Chandler Parsons was a versatile forward with the Rockets and Mavericks before signing a four-year, $94 million max contract with the Grizzlies. However, due to injuries, Parsons never lived up to that deal and eventually was involved in a car crash in 2020 that ended his playing career.

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $126,999,101

Evan Fournier has been a knockdown shooter for most of his career, hovering around 15-18 points per game for the past seven seasons.

Fournier has signed two massive contracts in his career, including a five-year, $85 million deal with the Magic and a four-year, $73 million deal with the Knicks.

Despite the huge contract from New York, Fournier was out of the rotation last season and recently said he feels like he’s being “held hostage” in New York.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $124,283,187

Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams are tied for the most Sixth Man of the Year awards, with three each. Crawford scored 19,419 points during his 20-year NBA career, thanks primarily to an elusive crossover dribble that snatched countless ankles.

Crawford had two notable contracts that made the majority of his career earnings. First, he signed a seven-year, $55.4 million sign-and-trade deal with the Bulls. Later in his career, he signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Clippers.

Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images

Career earnings: $121,321,946

Jonas Valanciunas has been a double-double force since being selected as the No. 5 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft and has expanded his range beyond the arc in recent seasons. Valanciunas enters this season as the 15th-ranked center according to our HoopsHype center rankings.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $119,767,741

Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a streaky three-point shooter throughout his career who’s never been shy to let it fly from beyond the arc. Hardaway Jr. has cashed in twice during his career with a four-year, $71 million restricted free agency offer sheet from the Knicks and a four-year, $75 million deal with the Mavericks.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $118,962,219

Trevor Ariza came into the NBA as an athletic 19-year-old with the Knicks, became a champion with the Lakers, and was a noteworthy 3-and-D role player with the Rockets during the height of the James Harden era.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $118,659,914

Tristan Thompson may not have had gaudy stats, but he played every game for four straight seasons and was a consistent double-double threat for nearly 10 seasons who became an NBA champion. Cleveland gave Thompson a five-year, $82 million deal, which was his biggest NBA payday.

Albert Perez/Getty Images

Career earnings: $118,591,363

After being the No. 1 pick of the 2005 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, Andrew Bogut became an All-NBA and All-Defensive selection, led the league in blocks once, and won a championship with the Warriors.

The Bucks gave Bogut a five-year, $60 million extension, and the Warriors gave him a three-year, $36 million extension during his career.

Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images

Career earnings: $118,345,008

JJ Redick was one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, including leading the NBA in three-point percentage during the 2015-16 season. Redick had his best years from age 30-35, as he averaged 16.4 points on 43.2 percent shooting from downtown. After finishing the 2020-21 season with the Mavericks, he’s since become a rising personality on ESPN.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $116,883,643

Richard Jefferson spent his best years with the New Jersey Nets alongside Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. After the Nets made consecutive Finals appearances, Jefferson had the best stretch of his career, averaging 19.5 points on 48 percent shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game over the next three seasons.

The Nets signed Jefferson to a six-year, $78 million extension during his tenure, and he now appears on the YES Network (the team’s TV affiliate) and ESPN.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Career earnings: $116,294,581

Josh Smith was a versatile forward who excelled defensively, including an All-Defensive Team selection in 2010. Smith averaged 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game in nine seasons with Atlanta before signing a four-year, $54 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. Smith was then waived in the midst of his second season with Detroit.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Career earnings: $115,967,658

Lamar Odom became a two-time NBA champion and won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2011. Odom signed a six-year, $65 million contract with the Heat and had one of his best individual seasons as a pro before he was included in the trade for Shaquille O’Neal.

Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $114,834,028

Wesley Matthews was a solid starting-caliber wing who played both sides of the ball during his career. Dallas gave Matthews the biggest contract of his career, a four-year, $70 million deal.

Kyle Terada – Pool/Getty Images

Career earnings: $114,710,368

Aaron Gordon made a case to become an All-Star while shooting a career-high 56.4 percent as the Denver Nuggets had the best record in the West and then won the championship last season.

Elsa/Getty Images

Career earnings: $113,331,400

George Hill famously was traded by the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, who won a title and Finals MVP with the Spurs in 2014. While the Spurs won that heist of a trade, Hill became a solid starting point guard for the Pacers, who lost twice in the Eastern Conference Finals during his tenure.

Hill eventually signed a three-year, $57 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, his highest-paid contract.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $109,771,071

Marvin Williams was a versatile forward during his 15-year NBA career who didn’t hit the ceiling of his No. 2 overall draft selection from the 2005 draft but maximized his floor.

Williams signed two big contracts during his career, including a five-year, $37.5 million deal with Atlanta and a four-year, $54.5 million with Charlotte.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $109,360,492

Ryan Anderson was an effective stretch forward during his career who won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2012. The Houston Rockets gave Anderson a four-year, $80 million contract in the summer of 2016, but he never lived up to the deal and spent only the next two years in Houston, averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $108,310,292

After being the No. 10 overall selection of the 1999 NBA Draft, Jason Terry was an All-Rookie, Sixth Man of the Year in 2009, and a 2011 champion with the Dallas Mavericks. Terry began his career as a starter in Atlanta but became one of the top bench scorers with Dallas.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $107,093,621

Mike Bibby was an All-Rookie selection and a consistent starter for the first 11 years of his 14-year career after being the No. 2 pick of the 1998 NBA Draft. Bibby was traded by the Vancouver Grizzlies to the Sacramento Kings with Brent Price for Jason Williams and Nick Anderson. Bibby became a key playoff performer for Sacramento and signed a seven-year, $80 million deal with the Kings.

Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images

Career earnings: $105,798,207

Jason Richardson was a two-time Slam Dunk champion (2002-03) and was a high-level starting caliber player from his third to seventh seasons in the league, averaging 20.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. Richardson signed a six-year, $70 million contract extension with the Warriors that was his biggest payday.

Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $105,390,288

After playing 19 combined games in his first two NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings and spending two years out of the NBA, Hassan Whiteside returned to the league with the Miami Heat. Whiteside then led the NBA in blocks twice and was the league’s rebounding leader for one season.

Whiteside signed a four-year, $98 million contract with the Heat that was the bulk of his career earnings.

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $104,404,159

Danny Green has been a three-time NBA champion and a former All-Defensive Team member as he enters his 15th season in the league. Green has been known as a clutch playoff three-point shooter and has shot 40 percent for his career from downtown.

Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Career earnings: $104,376,530

Despite not being named an All-Star, Bojan Bogdanovic has been a high-level starter the past five seasons, averaging 18.8 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 40.4 percent from downtown.

Bogdanovic has drawn trade interest from several teams dating back to last season and will be a player to monitor should Detroit struggle again this season. He’s owed $20 million this season and $19 million next season, with a partial guarantee of only $2 million, as noted by our Pistons salaries page.

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $104,008,681

Monta Ellis put up All-Star-caliber stats during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons with the Warriors, where he averaged 24.7 points, 5.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 steals while leading the league in minutes per game both seasons. However, Golden State’s struggles as a team didn’t help his All-Star candidacy.

His biggest payday was a six-year, $66 million deal with the Warriors.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Career earnings: $102,914,106

Jamal Murray’s name on this list may surprise you after Denver was the No. 1 seed in the West last season, and his career playoff averages of 25.0 points, 6.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds. Murray, who previously signed a five-year max extension with the Nuggets, will be a strong contender to make his first All-Star appearance this season as he enters his prime at 26.

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $102,454,224

Enes Kanter averaged a double-double four times in his 11-year NBA career. Kanter’s big payday came when the Portland Trail Blazers offered him a four-year, $70 million offer sheet in restricted free agency, which was matched by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Scott Legato/Getty Images

Career earnings: $102,438,250

After being a member of Michigan’s “Fab Five,” Jalen Rose played 13 years in the NBA, including winning the 2000 Most Improved Player of the Year award and signing a seven-year, $93 million deal with the Indiana Pacers.

Rose’s best stretch was from age 27 to 30, averaging 20.3 points, 4.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He’s since worked for ESPN, been an author, and is now partnering with The New York Post on Jalen Rose: Renaissance Man Podcast.

Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $99,672,198

Damon Stoudamire was the 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year and had his best statistical run with the Toronto Raptors for the first 2.5 seasons of his career, averaging 19.6 points and 8.8 assists.

Stoudamire broke the bank when he signed a seven-year, $81 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $99,532,934

Myles Turner has been a two-time block leader and is coming off his best season with the Pacers, averaging a career-high 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent from the field.

Turner predicted he’ll become an All-Star this season on Theo Pinson’s “Run Your Race” podcast.

Mat Hayward/Getty Images

Career earnings: $99,376,913

Mike Miller was a two-time champion, Sixth Man of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and efficient three-point shooter (40.7 percent). Miller never made over $10 million in a season but remained in the league for 17 seasons, which boosted his overall total.

Miller is now an NBA agent representing several players, including Paolo Banchero.

Podcast: Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley on Paolo Banchero

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $98,227,016

Evan Turner, the former No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, didn’t live up to his draft status but was a versatile role player during his 10-year career.

Turner surprisingly got a four-year, $70 million deal from the Portland Trail Blazers, who already had Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum as their starting guards and Moe Harkless as the primary starting small forward. Turner averaged 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in three seasons with Portland, while starting only 54 of 217 regular-season games.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Career earnings: $97,963,871

Erick Dampier had the best season of his career in a contract year during the 2003-04 season with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 12.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, which he parlayed into a seven-year, $73 million deal from the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas had buyer’s remorse as Dampier averaged 6.5 points and 7.6 rebounds over the following six seasons.

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on Twitter.