Honorable mentions: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
The contract: 5 years, $205 million (2017)
After winning the NBA MVP during the 2016-17 season in which he averaged a triple-double, Russell Westbrook was signed to a five-year, $205 million supermax contract extension. The Oklahoma City Thunder made Russ the highest-paid player in NBA history and the highest per-year paid player in the league at the time. It was a deal that was applauded at the time but didn’t age well as Russ became the new face of the NBA’s worst contract in the league.
After signing the contract, Russ only played two more seasons in OKC before the Thunder pivoted to a rebuild and traded him to the Houston Rockets (in exchange for Chris Paul). After leaving the Thunder, Russ never quite fit on a team again. Even more so with the NBA quickly transitioning to a more perimeter-oriented game.
In the past four years, Russ has played for four different teams. He played for the Rockets in 2019-20, the Washington Wizards in 2020-21, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22, and then signed with the LA Clippers after being traded to the Utah Jazz (who bought him out shortly after).
The “worst contract” in the league finally expires after this season.