EuroLeague record salaries: no Olimpia Milano or Virtus Bologna players in the Top 10

For the 2025-26 season, EuroLeague salaries have reached unprecedented levels, with nine out of the top ten contracts above the $3M net mark. Vasilije Micic of Hapoel Tel Aviv leads with $5.6M, followed by Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos, $5.3M) and Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos, $4.1M).

Here is the full Top 10 list:

1. Vasilije Micic $5.6M (Hapoel Tel Aviv) – Secured the richest deal in Europe, with complex clauses and even club shares, totaling €14M net over three years.

2. Kendrick Nunn $5.3M (Panathinaikos) – His extension made him Europe’s highest-paid player before Micic’s deal, convincing him to stay away from the NBA.

3. Sasha Vezenkov $4.1M (Olympiacos) – In the second year of his contract with Olympiacos, he earns similar money to what he left behind in the NBA.

4. Shane Larkin $3.75M (Anadolu Efes) – A cornerstone for Efes, long among the top earners, secured until 2028 and still near the top of the salary chart.

5. Dzanan Musa $3.5M (Dubai BC) – Nearly doubled his Real Madrid salary by moving to Dubai, benefiting from the tax-free system.

6. Evan Fournier $3.2M (Olympiacos) – The former NBA guard landed a contract reflecting his status, well above last season’s $2.2M net.

7. Mathias Lessort $3.2M (Panathinaikos) – Rewarded with an extension after winning the EuroLeague title, entering the Top 10 for the first time.

8. Kostas Sloukas $3.1M (Panathinaikos) – In the final year of his contract, he received a major raise, becoming the second-highest paid Greek player ever.

9. Mike James $3M (Monaco) – Still on the list, although the same contract last year ranked him third. U.S. tax obligations remain a factor.
   10-11. Walter Tavares $2.7M (Real Madrid) – The only player from Spanish clubs, affected by the country’s heavy taxation.
   10-11. Elijah Bryant $2.7M (Hapoel Tel Aviv) – After a standout season with Efes, he signed the biggest contract of his career, boosting Hapoel among the top spenders.

What stands out is the absence of Italians: neither Olimpia Milano nor Virtus Bologna have a player among the ten richest contracts in Europe, highlighting a widening gap with the continent’s biggest spenders.

Source: Eurohoops