The most outlier NBA salaries on record

9 Feb 1997: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls takes off his jacket during the NBA All-Star Game at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.The East defeated the West 132-120 .

The salaries of the 1990s are nowhere near what players enjoy today, even after adjusting for inflation. Still, in that decade there were some absolute outliers relative to what most players were making.

The most outstanding example is the year Michael Jordan won his fifth NBA title. In that 1996-97 season, he earned more than $30 million. That amount represented 3.75 percent of the total NBA salary expenditure that year. If Air Jordan played under those same conditions today, he would have earned almost 200 million dollars in the 2024-25 season!

Below, take a look at the most outlier NBA salaries since 1990, which is as far as our data goes back.

1. 1996-97 Michael Jordan

LANDOVER, MD - FEBRUARY 21: Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan (L) slams into Washington Bullets Gheorghe Muresan (R) after making a basket in the fourth quarter in Landover, MD, 21 February. Chicago won, 103-99. (Photo credit should read TED MATHIAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $30,140,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 3.75 percent

That 3.75 percent would amount to a salary of $196.6 million in $2024-25

2. 1997-98 Michael Jordan

ORLANDO, UNITED STATES: Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan drives past Orlando Magic forward Charles Outlaw for two points during the first period of the game at the Arena in Orlando, 25 March. AFP PHOTO TONY RANZE (Photo credit should read TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $33,140,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 3.49 percent

That 3.49 percent would amount to a salary of $183.2 million in $2024-25

3. 1995-96 Patrick Ewing

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 9: New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing (front) drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics Eric Montross in the 2nd quarter in New York 09 Jan. Ewing returned to the lineup after being sidelined for three games with a sprained right ankle as the Knicks beat Boston 98-93. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read BOB STRONG/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $18,724,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 2.59 percent

That 2.59 percent would amount to a salary of $135.5 million in $2024-25

4. 1994-95 Magic Johnson

Unknown date 1996; Orlando, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Lakes guard Magic Johnson prior to the game against the Orlando Magic during the 1996 seasonat the Orlando Arena. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports

Actual salary: $14,660,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 2.45 percent

That 2.45 percent would amount to a salary of $128.4 million in $2024-25

5. 1997-98 Patrick Ewing

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 19: New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing (R) blocks the shot of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Shawn Kemp (L) in the first half of their game 19 December at Gund Arena in Cleveland, OH. Ewing was charged with a foul on the play. (Photo credit should read KIMBERLY BARTH/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $20,500,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 2.16 percent

That 2.16 percent would amount to a salary of $113.3 million in $2024-25

6. 1991-92 Larry Bird

Mar 10, 1991; Portland, OR, USA: FILE PHOTO; Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird (33) is defended by Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerome Kersey (25) at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Actual salary: $7,070,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.91 percent

That 1.91 percent would amount to a salary of $100.3 million in $2024-25

7. 1996-97 Horace Grant

Actual salary: $14,857,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.85 percent

That 1.85 percent would amount to a salary of $96.9 million in $2024-25

8. 1998-99 Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks (R) loses control of the ball while Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat (C) and P.J. Brown (L) defend in the third quarter of their game 07 February at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Heat won, 83-79. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP) (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $18,500,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.73 percent

That 1.73 percent would amount to a salary of $90.7 million in $2024-25

9. 2003-04 Kevin Garnett

Minnesota Timberwolves' forward Kevin Garnett shoots over Toronto Raptors' guard Lindsey Hunter (R) during first-half NBA play in Toronto on 12 January, 2003. Toronto defeated Minnesota 105-91, despite Garnett's team leading 26 points. AFP PHOTO/J.P. Moczulski (Photo by J.P. MOCZULSKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read J.P. MOCZULSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $28,000,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.67 percent

That 1.67 percent would amount to a salary of $87.8 million in $2024-25

10. 2004-05 Shaquille O'Neal

Actual salary: $27,696,430

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.56 percent

That 1.56 percent would amount to a salary of $81.9 million in $2024-25

11. 2002-03 Kevin Garnett

MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES: Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett (L) drives past Atlanta Hawks' Shareef Abdur-Rahim (R) during the in the fourth quarter 12 December 2002 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Garnett scored 21 points as Minnesota won 113-95. AFP PHOTO/CRAIG LASSIG (Photo credit should read CRAIG LASSIG/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $25,200,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.51 percent

That 1.51 percent would amount to a salary of $79.1 million in $2024-25

12. 1997-98 Horace Grant

1 Apr 1998: Forward Horace Grant of the Orlando Magic in action against the Boston Celtics during a game at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The Celtics defeated the Magic 98-87. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Actual salary: $14,285,714

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.51 percent

That 1.51 percent would amount to a salary of $79.0 million in $2024-25

13. 2003-04 Shaquille O'Neal

LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 7: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers slams home a basket over Greg Ostertag #00 of the Utah Jazz on December 7, 2003 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Actual salary: $24,749,999

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.48 percent

That 1.48 percent would amount to a salary of $77.6 million in $2024-25

14. 1990-91 Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing #33, Center and Power Forward for the New York Knicks looks on with hands on hips during the NBA Midwest Division basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on 24th January 1991 at the McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado, United States. The Nuggets won the game 120 - 117. (Photo by Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images)

Actual salary: $4,250,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.45 percent

That 1.45 percent would amount to a salary of $75.9 million in $2024-25

15. 2013-14 Kobe Bryant

Actual salary: $30,453,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.44 percent

That 1.44 percent would amount to a salary of $75.4 million in $2024-25

16. 2001-02 Kevin Garnett

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) goes up for two against Washington Wizards Jahidi White (L), Popeye Jones (C back) and Michael Jordan (R). Garnett led the Timberwolves to a 108-100 victory with 31 points at the MCI Center in Washington, DC, 12 January 2002. AFP PHOTO/Preston KERES (Photo by PRESTON KERES / AFP) (Photo by PRESTON KERES/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $22,400,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.44 percent

That 1.44 percent would amount to a salary of $75.3 million in $2024-25

17. 2002-03 Shaquille O'Neal

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal (R) drives past Toronto Raptors' Voshon Lenard (C) and Nate Huffman in the second quarter in Los Angeles 29 December 2002. AFP PHOTO/Lucy Nicholson (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $23,571,429

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.41 percent

That 1.41 percent would amount to a salary of $74.0 million in $2024-25

18. 1998-99 Shaquille O'Neal

Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal looks to pass under pressure from Clipers' No. 15 Darrick Martin and No. 55 Lorenzen Wright after a rebound in first quarter action at the Great Western Forum, 29 January in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers went on to win the game 107-76.
AFP PHOTO Gerard Burkhart (Photo by GERARD BURKHART / AFP) (Photo credit should read GERARD BURKHART/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $15,000,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.40 percent

That 1.40 percent would amount to a salary of $73.5 million in $2024-25

19. 1996-97 Reggie Miller

Actual salary: $11,250,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.40 percent

That 1.40 percent would amount to a salary of $73.4 million in $2024-25

20. 1998-99 David Robinson

Seattle Supersonic Detlef Schrempf (R) tries to tie up San Antonio Spurs David Robinson (L) during first quarter action of their game in Seattle, WA on 26 February. AFP PHOTO/Dan Levine (Photo by DAN LEVINE / AFP) (Photo by DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $14,841,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.39 percent

That 1.39 percent would amount to a salary of $72.7 million in $2024-25

21. 2001-02 Shaquille O'Neal

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal (R) loses the ball to the Sacramento Kings' Doug Christie during the third quarter in Los Angeles, 18 November 2001. The Lakers won 93-85. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $21,428,572

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.37 percent

That 1.37 percent would amount to a salary of $72.1 million in $2024-25

22. 1997-98 Shaquille O'Neal

Unknown date; San Antonio, TX, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (34) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamo Dome. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Actual salary: $12,857,143

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.36 percent

That 1.36 percent would amount to a salary of $71.1 million in $2024-25

23. 1995-96 Clyde Drexler

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Clyde Drexler of the Houston Rockets (R) works against Los Angeles Laker Eddie Jones during first quarter action at The Summit in Houston, Texas 02 May. (Photo credit should read PAUL K. BUCK/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $9,810,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.35 percent

That 1.35 percent would amount to a salary of $71.0 million in $2024-25

24. 1992-93 David Robinson

David Robinson #50, Center for the San Antonio Spurs wearing eye protecting spectacles looks on during the NBA Midwest Division basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on 5th November 1992 at the McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado, United States. The Nuggets won the game 197 - 96. (Photo by Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images)

Actual salary: $5,720,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.33 percent

That 1.33 percent would amount to a salary of $69.9 million in $2024-25

25. 1996-97 Shaquille O'Neal

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers (R) drives to the basket past Arvydas Sabonis of the Portland Trail Blazers during their 13 December game in Los Angeles. O'Neal scored 34 points to guide the Lakers to their fifth straight win, 120-119, in overtime. AFP PHOTO Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)

Actual salary: $10,714,000

Percentage of NBA salary expenditure: 1.33 percent

That 1.33 percent would amount to a salary of $69.9 million in $2024-25

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The most outlier NBA salaries on record

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