5 Most Underpaid NBA Players for 2023-24 Season

By: Fatima Roshni Image credit: Sportsnet

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[{"selector":"#anim-b89123c9-53de-45cd-b227-e2aec145d252","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0ba8f03-9986-4713-8bf3-4ef48e490e27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 68.33931%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9b3ceef-5565-4a4b-a086-8f37399e2805","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.40506%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8f10d9e-08c4-4482-bf31-58e56ebff5ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f09c82fb-a61b-4796-9ff0-7b2ba14a40e9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ab44421-23f6-4216-a3c6-c347623b122b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-63.21260317690404%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] In comparison to the overpaid ones, these underpaid players have been underestimated and undervalued in terms of their performance, from the experienced ones to the rookie-year players.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e5c798b-1f37-422d-9fd3-c412f4285a93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(54.74842009771936%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a0b0c2b-5970-4fcc-a9d8-cb501b539a6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c383af4-8268-4b14-bb1a-3b95b49b789f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.97817%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-631651e1-4c6e-43bc-b279-9c95932f2db0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-455d02cd-335b-4af2-8935-8abbf2129b8a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Currently under a 2-year contract with the Clippers, Russell Westbrook's $3.8 million salary seems underpaid in comparison to his playoff average of 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.

[{"selector":"#anim-dd761911-03c4-41cb-9308-c339d0cbf67c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-58.90733554195161%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01975cd4-01c7-46b3-9101-40f5969827ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c50b552-2b5b-4b85-83e8-b4ba6bcd7843","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-351f8e0f-026f-4f61-abbc-93ad6caddc02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26f5c1df-81a2-42a1-9c96-294dc5ffb389","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] 2022 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, drafted in 2021 by the Raptors with an emerging career averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in his second season, is underpaid by $8 million.

[{"selector":"#anim-29b95aba-4ca5-4e79-835e-f6266ba10ce9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e7515e2-20bc-417a-a1bc-63f10d125ff8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e09fc88-a833-4647-a014-c2f447c83815","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.26873%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1346907-7f8a-4942-9e87-1a51892257c2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(53.95927121607538%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] In comparison to Jacob Poeltl's 13 points and 9 rebounds, earning $20 million, Jonas Valančiūnas average of 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 79 games, earning $15 million in pay, stands underpaid.

[{"selector":"#anim-0e53ebea-46ab-4ddb-af02-d86f3beb00c1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-8be65380-8517-4210-9f76-a81327f3499c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b21c70ed-e416-4b97-82cc-378ec68d3904","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-634fb226-590e-49f7-afe3-29115cb7f3df [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-62.626379035911484%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Coming out of the playoffs averaging 20.5 points and 1.4 steals along with a three-point shooting percentage of 40%, Philadelphia 76ers player Tyrese Maxey's $4.3 million salary stands unjustified.

[{"selector":"#anim-73f82919-070f-41e3-9203-c7dbb13bbac1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08fe649d-9180-4742-8ae4-a8e7beda5673","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 65.38233%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17492fc6-70eb-418d-8185-036ac7f97d28","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f8ca7f9-e18c-4e5c-8d80-f002050d1ae9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(65.35908728776822%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] With Darius and Donovon earning over $34 million, Cavaliers 2021 draftee Evan Mobley's underdog career, which led his team to the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, is earning $8.8 million.

[{"selector":"#anim-ecb35de3-abd0-4390-b4ac-59ca226276b7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-70.5624998213744%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-681e875b-e2cd-41a1-ab67-1a8b33e178cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddb3807a-b3c3-4943-84e9-2f4e8c6b28b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 135.54176%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a97a00a7-df6e-4d77-b996-3a43842e04a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e686e7f-3fbe-411d-bfd2-c311a11691c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-95.77778%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Besides the ones mentioned earlier, other players, including Lauri Markkanen, Nic Claxton, Alperen Sengun, Alex Caruso, and Jalen Green, currently stand on the list of the most underpaid NBA players.

5 Most Underpaid NBA Players for 2023-24 Season

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