This Wednesday at Paycom Center, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a chance to deliver the final blow to the Minnesota Timberwolves and close out the Western Conference Finals in five games. So far, they’ve shown clear superiority on the court—though that dominance isn’t necessarily reflected in each team’s budget.
According to HoopsHype, Minnesota ranks second among all NBA teams in player payroll this season. Their total stands at $204,780,898, trailing only the Phoenix Suns, who lead the league at $220,708,856.
The Thunder, on the other hand, sit at the opposite end of the spectrum. They rank 25th out of the 30 NBA teams with a payroll of $167,471,133—nearly $40 million less than the Timberwolves. In fact, only four teams spend less than OKC: the San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, and Detroit Pistons.
That only highlights the remarkable job done by the Thunder, who—with a smaller budget than most of the league—have managed to remain highly competitive and are now just one step away from conquering the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert is the best-paid player in Minnesota with a salary of $43.8 million
A similar story is unfolding in the East. The Indiana Pacers find themselves in the same position: up 3-1 in the Conference Finals against the New York Knicks with the series shifting to Madison Square Garden for Game 5. The Pacers rank just slightly ahead of the Thunder at 22nd, with a payroll of $169,846,170. The Knicks, meanwhile, rank fourth at $193,588,886.
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Who are the highest-paid players on OKC?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have only two players among the NBA’s top 100 earners. The team’s highest salary, unsurprisingly, belongs to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is earning $35,859,950 this year—ranking 34th in the league. That’s a surprisingly low ranking considering the Canadian guard’s performance this season, which earned him MVP honors.
The only other OKC player in the top 100 is Isaiah Hartenstein, ranked 49th with a $30,000,000 salary. Following them are Luguentz Dort (105th with $16,500,000), Isaiah Joe (122nd with $12,991,650), and Chet Holmgren (155th with $10,880,640).
Top salaries on the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota’s second-place ranking in NBA payroll is driven by several high-earning superstars. Leading the list is Rudy Gobert, who earns $43,827,586 annually, placing him 16th in the league. To put that in context, the French center makes more than superstars like Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, and Tyrese Haliburton.
Anthony Edwards is Minnesota’s second-highest-paid player, earning $42,176,400 per year, which puts him at 21st in the NBA salary rankings. Other Timberwolves in the top 100 include Julius Randle (47th with $31,695,840) and Jaden McDaniels (74th with $23,017,242).
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Should Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have a higher salary at OKC?
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