13 NBA Players Making More Than LeBron James in 2026-27 — Despite Being Way Less Productive

The Ultimate Bargain Contract

LeBron James just pulled off one of the great value plays in modern NBA history. At 41 years old, coming off a season where he still averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds a game, he signed a two-year, $7.9 million veteran-minimum deal. For context, that's less than what dozens of role players who barely see the floor will pocket next season.

According to Fansided's breakdown, LeBron now sits tied with DeAndre Jordan near the bottom of the NBA's salary rankings — behind 290 other players. Thirteen of those players stand out as especially rough value cases: guys getting paid star money while producing bench-level results.

Exhibit A: Patrick Williams

The poster child for this list is Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, who's owed a flat $18 million annually over the next three seasons. The problem? He just posted career lows across the board — 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 20.5 minutes per game, while shooting a career-worst 37.2 percent from the field. That's on a Bulls team that wasn't even trying to compete for most of the season.

Making matters worse, Williams is now buried on the depth chart behind No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson, lottery picks Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, and veteran big man Jalen Smith. Chicago is essentially paying $18 million a year for a player who might not crack the rotation.

Why This Keeps Happening

This isn't really about any one player being a bust — it's about how NBA contracts work. Teams commit big money based on projected upside, previous production, or restricted free agency leverage, and then reality doesn't cooperate. Injuries, poor fit, or simple regression turn a reasonable bet into a multi-year albatross. Meanwhile, a 41-year-old future Hall of Famer signs for scraps because he wants a shot at a ring, not a payday.

The result is a wildly inefficient market where a still-productive LeBron earns less than 290 other players, many of whom aren't sniffing his impact. It's a reminder that NBA salaries are lagging indicators — they reflect what a player was worth when the deal was signed, not what they're worth right now.

The Bigger Picture

For rebuilding teams like the Bulls, these bloated contracts aren't just embarrassing — they're actively limiting flexibility, clogging cap space, and making it harder to build around young talent. For contenders like LeBron's new team, landing a superstar at minimum cost is basically a cheat code, freeing up resources to build a deeper roster around him.

Expect this gap between pay and production to stay a hot topic all season, especially every time Williams — or any of the other 12 names on this list — struggles on a national broadcast.