Who was the first NBA player to get a $100 million dollar contract?

How Juwan Howard Paved the Way for NBA’s Mega Contracts

In 1996, long before billion-dollar media deals and $200 million player salaries, one move sent shockwaves through the NBA: Juwan Howard signed a 7-year, $105 million contract with the Washington Bullets (now Wizards). It was a number no one had seen before—a seismic shift in the business of basketball.

Coming off his second season, Howard averaged 22.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, earning All-NBA Second Team honors. At the time, those numbers—and that contract—were seen as groundbreaking. The league was booming culturally, thanks to Michael Jordan’s global stardom, and owners were ready to spend. Howard became the first player to cross the $100 million threshold, setting a precedent that would forever change NBA economics.

Back then, $105 million felt astronomical. Fast forward two decades, and the landscape has transformed beyond imagination. In 2017, Stephen Curry became the first player to sign a $200 million deal. By the mid-2020s, stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić were agreeing to extensions pushing $250–$300 million. The current ceiling? Approaching $400 million over five years, thanks to new CBA structures and skyrocketing franchise values.

Howard’s contract wasn’t just a paycheck—it was a turning point. It signaled that elite NBA talent wasn’t just valuable; it was worth investing in like never before. While his on-court production didn’t quite match the long-term expectations of that deal, his legacy as the original “$100 million man” remains a cornerstone in the evolution of player power and financial growth in professional sports.

From $105 million in 1996 to half a billion in sight—basketball’s financial game has evolved faster than anyone imagined.