NBA salaries: The highest-paid college alumni each year-by-year

Kentucky alumni took the No. 1 position as the highest-paid in the NBA in 2014 and are unlikely to relinquish it soon. When the Wildcats replaced the Huskies at the top spot, they earned $107 million combined. By last year, their earnings had soared to $398 million, approximately 8 percent of the total NBA salary expenditure.

The days when North Carolina reigned supreme in the salary rankings are long gone. Tar Heel alumni have not ranked in the Top 8 since the 2019-20 season.

Below are the rankings year by year since 1990-91, the earliest date for which we have data. (The highest-paid player for each college is in parenthesis.)

1990-91: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $11,460,000 (Michael Jordan)

2. Minnesota: $7,535,000 (Willie Burton)

3. Duke: $6,810,000 (Danny Ferry)

4. Illinois: $6,654,000 (Derek Harper)

5. Georgetown: $6,400,000 (Patrick Ewing)

6. Louisville: $6,320,000 (Pervis Ellison)

7. Michigan: $6,115,000 (Glen Rice)

8. UCLA: $6,064,000 (Mark Eaton)

1991-92: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $15,963,000 (Michael Jordan)

2. Minnesota: $9,958,000 (Kevin McHale)

3. Syracuse: $9,152,000 (Derrick Coleman)

4. Georgia Tech: $9,109,000 (John Salley)

5. Michigan State: $8,660,000 (Magic Johnson)

6. UCLA: $8,634,000 (Reggie Miller)

7. Duke: $7,437,000 (Danny Ferry)

8. Georgetown: $7,319,000 (Patrick Ewing)

1992-93: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $17,563,000 (Michael Jordan)

2. Syracuse: $11,705,000 (Derrick Coleman)

3. Georgia Tech: $11,239,000 (Dennis Scott)

4. Georgetown: $10,914,000 (Patrick Ewing)

5. Michigan State: $10,175,000 (Magic Johnson)

6. UCLA: $9,322,000 (Reggie Miller)

7. Duke: $9,058,000 (Danny Ferry)

8. Louisiana State: $8,976,000 (Shaquille O’Neal)

1993-94: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $21,066,000 (Michael Jordan)

2. Georgia Tech: $14,778,000 (Kenny Anderson)

3. Louisiana State: $14,740,000 (Shaquille O’Neal)

4. Syracuse: $13,761,000 (Derrick Coleman)

5. Georgetown: $13,623,000 (Patrick Ewing)

6. Duke: $12,794,000 (Danny Ferry)

7. Illinois: $11,182,000 (Nick Anderson)

8. UNLV: $11,075,000 (Larry Johnson)

1994-95: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $30,720,900 (James Worthy)

2. Michigan State: $21,986,250 (Magic Johnson)

3. Michigan: $16,741,000 (Roy Tarpley)

4. Louisiana State: $16,574,500 (Shaquille O’Neal)

5. Georgia Tech: $16,557,200 (Kenny Anderson)

6. Duke: $16,057,000 (Danny Ferry)

7. Syracuse: $14,029,000 (Derrick Coleman)

8. Georgetown: $13,714,200 (Patrick Ewing)

1995-96: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $35,379,000 (James Worthy)

2. Georgetown: $29,372,000 (Patrick Ewing)

3. Michigan: $21,099,000 (Chris Webber)

4. Duke: $18,681,000 (Danny Ferry)

5. Houston: $17,400,000 (Clyde Drexler)

6. Georgia Tech: $17,339,000 (Kenny Anderson)

7. Syracuse: $17,088,000 (Derrick Coleman)

8. Louisiana State: $16,509,560 (Shaquille O’Neal)

1996-97: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $47,568,600 (Michael Jordan)

2. Clemson: $32,015,200 (Horace Grant)

3. Michigan: $29,946,500 (Juwan Howard)

4. Georgetown: $26,483,500 (Alonzo Mourning)

5. Louisiana State: $21,435,000 (Shaquille O’Neal)

6. UCLA: $20,670,500 (Reggie Miller)

7. Syracuse: $19,829,000 (Derrick Coleman)

8. Georgia Tech: $19,559,000 (Kenny Anderson)

1997-98: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $51,574,940 (Michael Jordan)

2. Georgetown: $47,667,327 (Patrick Ewing)

3. Michigan: $33,350,800 (Juwan Howard)

4. Clemson: $32,729,047 (Horace Grant)

5. Alabama: $24,961,736 (Latrell Sprewell)

6. Louisiana State: $24,783,843 (Shaquille O’Neal)

7. Syracuse: $22,120,370 (Derrick Coleman)

8. UNLV: $20,573,364 (Larry Johnson)

1998-99: Georgetown

1. Georgetown: $48,922,880 (Patrick Ewing)

2. Michigan: $39,829,500 (Juwan Howard)

3. Alabama: $34,620,060 (Antonio McDyess)

4. Arizona: $33,923,600 (Damon Stoudamire)

5. North Carolina: $29,944,500 (Rasheed Wallace)

6. Georgia Tech: $28,450,000 (Matt Geiger)

7. Clemson: $24,321,000 (Horace Grant)

8. UNLV: $23,727,500 (Larry Johnson)

1999-00: Georgetown

1. Georgetown: $58,295,049 (Alonzo Mourning)

2. Michigan: $44,824,426 (Juwan Howard)

3. North Carolina: $37,667,830 (Rasheed Wallace)

4. Alabama: $37,601,567 (Antonio McDyess)

5. Arizona: $36,918,669 (Damon Stoudamire)

6. Georgia Tech: $34,259,445 (Stephon Marbury)

7. UNLV: $31,952,301 (Larry Johnson)

8. Duke: $27,067,420 (Grant Hill)

2000-01: Georgetown

1. Georgetown: $66,063,000 (Alonzo Mourning)

2. Michigan: $61,281,794 (Juwan Howard)

3. North Carolina: $42,677,340 (Rasheed Wallace)

4. Alabama: $38,634,500 (Antonio McDyess)

5. Georgia Tech: $37,121,960 (Stephon Marbury)

6. Kentucky: $35,463,380 (Antoine Walker)

7. Arizona: $35,167,640 (Damon Stoudamire)

8. Connecticut: $28,981,318 (Ray Allen)

2001-02: Michigan

1. Michigan: $67,575,340 (Juwan Howard)

2. Georgetown: $59,660,202 (Alonzo Mourning)

3. Kentucky: $47,840,610 (Antoine Walker)

4. North Carolina: $47,703,768 (Rasheed Wallace)

5. Georgia Tech: $40,640,858 (Stephon Marbury)

6. Alabama: $39,860,380 (Antonio McDyess)

7. Arizona: $36,031,239 (Damon Stoudamire)

8. Connecticut: $32,650,440 (Ray Allen)

2002-03: Michigan

1. Michigan: $71,532,894 (Juwan Howard)

2. Georgetown: $65,426,249 (Alonzo Mourning)

3. North Carolina: $64,980,071 (Rasheed Wallace)

4. Arizona: $45,901,644 (Damon Stoudamire)

5. Kentucky: $45,506,445 (Antoine Walker)

6. Georgia Tech: $41,857,232 (Stephon Marbury)

7. Duke: $38,741,013 (Grant Hill)

8. Alabama: $36,382,760 (Antonio McDyess)

2003-04: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $67,336,634 (Rasheed Wallace)

2. Arizona: $55,370,092 (Damon Stoudamire)

3. Georgetown: $53,224,361 (Dikembe Mutombo)

4. Michigan: $53,222,187 (Chris Webber)

5. Kentucky: $50,198,720 (Antoine Walker)

6. Duke: $48,297,895 (Grant Hill)

7. Kansas: $41,063,597 (Paul Pierce)

8. Connecticut: $39,470,876 (Ray Allen)

2004-05: Duke

1. Duke: $63,240,570 (Grant Hill)

2. North Carolina: $57,062,181 (Antawn Jamison)

3. Georgetown: $57,002,305 (Dikembe Mutombo)

4. Kentucky: $55,511,208 (Antoine Walker)

5. Michigan: $53,622,227 (Chris Webber)

6. Connecticut: $46,169,380 (Ray Allen)

7. Arizona: $45,445,920 (Damon Stoudamire)

8. California: $41,221,917 (Jason Kidd)

2005-06: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $67,402,099 (Antawn Jamison)

2. Duke: $64,165,169 (Grant Hill)

3. Michigan: $56,941,398 (Chris Webber)

4. Kentucky: $52,583,679 (Jamal Mashburn)

5. Arizona: $49,285,747 (Mike Bibby)

6. Connecticut: $46,487,765 (Ray Allen)

7. Kansas: $45,653,956 (Paul Pierce)

8. Georgetown: $35,828,608 (Allen Iverson)

2006-07: Duke

1. Duke: $76,243,621 (Grant Hill)

2. North Carolina: $72,455,640 (Antawn Jamison)

3. Connecticut: $60,528,407 (Ray Allen)

4. Michigan: $58,305,093 (Chris Webber)

5. Arizona: $54,290,158 (Mike Bibby)

6. Kentucky: $46,265,074 (Derek Anderson)

7. Kansas: $43,176,747 (Paul Pierce)

8. Georgetown: $38,031,164 (Allen Iverson)

2007-08: North Carolina

1. North Carolina: $70,345,408 (Antawn Jamison)

2. Connecticut: $66,826,431 (Ray Allen)

3. Duke: $63,540,760 (Elton Brand)

4. Arizona: $61,548,307 (Mike Bibby)

5. Kansas: $57,480,739 (Paul Pierce)

6. UCLA: $43,459,345 (Baron Davis)

7. Michigan State: $42,309,544 (Zach Randolph)

8. Georgia Tech: $42,227,983 (Stephon Marbury)

2008-09: Arizona

1. Arizona: $75,532,561 (Mike Bibby)

2. Connecticut: $74,229,647 (Ray Allen)

3. Duke: $74,204,814 (Elton Brand)

4. North Carolina: $68,885,205 (Vince Carter)

5. Kansas: $61,359,781 (Paul Pierce)

6. Georgia Tech: $48,468,657 (Stephon Marbury)

7. Michigan State: $45,758,659 (Zach Randolph)

8. UCLA: $43,993,734 (Baron Davis)

2009-10: Duke

1. Duke: $82,655,343 (Elton Brand)

2. Connecticut: $82,439,002 (Ray Allen)

3. Arizona: $70,596,145 (Gilbert Arenas)

4. North Carolina: $64,516,628 (Vince Carter)

5. UCLA: $57,856,533 (Baron Davis)

6. Wake Forest: $54,087,680 (Tim Duncan)

7. Kansas: $46,540,312 (Paul Pierce)

8. Michigan State: $41,222,781 (Zach Randolph)

2010-11: Duke

1. Duke: $89,699,395 (Elton Brand)

2. Connecticut: $82,871,531 (Rudy Gay)

3. Arizona: $70,983,372 (Gilbert Arenas)

4. North Carolina: $68,673,435 (Vince Carter)

5. UCLA: $55,748,599 (Baron Davis)

6. Kansas: $54,266,209 (Paul Pierce)

7. Kentucky: $48,843,021 (Tayshaun Prince)

8. Wake Forest: $47,685,517 (Tim Duncan)

2011-12: Duke

1. Duke: $92,369,720 (Elton Brand)

2. Connecticut: $90,822,812 (Rudy Gay)

3. Arizona: $77,228,387 (Gilbert Arenas)

4. North Carolina: $69,193,197 (Vince Carter)

5. UCLA: $60,382,537 (Baron Davis)

6. Florida: $55,208,859 (Al Horford)

7. Kansas: $50,666,388 (Paul Pierce)

8. Wake Forest: $46,482,278 (Tim Duncan)

2012-13: Duke

1. Duke: $97,358,679 (Elton Brand)

2. Connecticut: $81,386,858 (Rudy Gay)

3. Arizona: $75,271,668 (Gilbert Arenas)

4. UCLA: $73,833,440 (Baron Davis)

5. Florida: $61,748,530 (David Lee)

6. Kentucky: $59,301,939 (Rajon Rondo)

7. Kansas: $54,749,013 (Paul Pierce)

8. FC Barcelona: $52,932,479 (Pau Gasol)

2013-14: Connecticut

1. Connecticut: $77,473,085 (Rudy Gay)

2. Arizona: $76,136,166 (Gilbert Arenas)

3. Kentucky: $73,991,299 (Rajon Rondo)

4. UCLA: $70,996,004 (Kevin Love)

5. Duke: $70,001,032 (Carlos Boozer)

6. Florida: $67,554,047 (David Lee)

7. North Carolina: $59,878,174 (Ty Lawson)

8. FC Barcelona: $55,148,493 (Pau Gasol)

2014-15: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $107,190,221 (DeMarcus Cousins)

2. UCLA: $81,681,582 (Kevin Love)

3. Florida: $81,606,252 (David Lee)

4. Duke: $74,205,488 (Carlos Boozer)

5. North Carolina: $61,327,507 (Ty Lawson)

6. Georgia Tech: $58,402,968 (Chris Bosh)

7. Arizona: $58,065,686 (Andre Iguodala)

8. Texas: $54,455,727 (Kevin Durant)

2015-16: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $119,733,163 (DeMarcus Cousins)

2. UCLA: $84,902,322 (Kevin Love)

3. Florida: $84,855,171 (Chandler Parsons)

4. Duke: $81,216,185 (Kyrie Irving)

5. North Carolina: $68,080,421 (Ty Lawson)

6. Texas: $67,288,608 (Kevin Durant)

7. FC Barcelona: $65,663,227 (Marc Gasol)

8. Georgia Tech: $64,061,450 (Chris Bosh)

2016-17: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $154,654,175 (Anthony Davis)

2. Duke: $125,431,725 (Luol Deng)

3. Florida: $106,384,513 (Al Horford)

4. UCLA: $103,031,371 (Russell Westbrook)

5. North Carolina: $94,777,062 (Harrison Barnes)

6. FC Barcelona: $86,392,751 (Marc Gasol)

7. Texas: $77,935,208 (Kevin Durant)

8. Marquette: $67,440,234 (Dwyane Wade)

2017-18: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $161,729,739 (Anthony Davis)

2. Duke: $155,580,357 (JJ Redick)

3. UCLA: $127,887,533 (Russell Westbrook)

4. Florida: $106,327,998 (Al Horford)

5. North Carolina: $96,282,170 (Harrison Barnes)

6. Texas: $83,249,405 (Kevin Durant)

7. Wake Forest: $72,258,914 (Chris Paul)

8. FC Barcelona: $72,059,958 (Marc Gasol)

2018-19: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $170,537,637 (Anthony Davis)

2. UCLA: $169,721,476 (Russell Westbrook)

3. Duke: $165,778,287 (Kyrie Irving)

4. Florida: $105,492,159 (Al Horford)

5. Texas: $97,701,946 (Kevin Durant)

6. Kansas: $96,602,158 (Andrew Wiggins)

7. Arizona: $85,660,152 (Aaron Gordon)

8. Wake Forest: $84,331,035 (Chris Paul)

2019-20: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $237,814,282 (John Wall)

2. Duke: $176,508,429 (Kyrie Irving)

3. UCLA: $162,875,549 (Russell Westbrook)

4. Texas: $126,501,519 (Kevin Durant)

5. Kansas: $101,640,325 (Andrew Wiggins)

6. Wake Forest: $90,880,010 (Chris Paul)

7. Florida: $87,483,894 (Al Horford)

8. North Carolina: $86,831,044 (Harrison Barnes)

2020-21: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $282,764,961 (John Wall)

2. Duke: $204,659,727 (Kyrie Irving)

3. UCLA: $176,166,407 (Russell Westbrook)

4. Texas: $123,592,596 (Kevin Durant)

5. Kansas: $104,774,141 (Andrew Wiggins)

6. Connecticut: $88,253,930 (Kemba Walker)

7. Wake Forest: $80,766,151 (Chris Paul)

8. USC: $78,989,125 (DeMar DeRozan)

2021-22: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $336,101,145 (John Wall)

2. Duke: $221,465,761 (Kyrie Irving)

3. UCLA: $184,086,322 (Russell Westbrook)

4. Texas: $124,310,219 (Kevin Durant)

5. Kansas: $117,243,180 (Andrew Wiggins)

6. USC: $88,697,141 (DeMar DeRozan)

7. Florida: $77,624,055 (Bradley Beal)

8. Wake Forest: $71,469,172 (Chris Paul)

2022-23: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $372,264,901 (John Wall)

2. Duke: $266,709,795 (Kyrie Irving)

3. UCLA: $207,622,227 (Russell Westbrook)

4. Texas: $138,711,195 (Kevin Durant)

5. Kansas: $123,579,849 (Andrew Wiggins)

6. Villanova: $100,930,727 (Kyle Lowry)

7. Arizona: $100,173,343 (Deandre Ayton)

8. USC: $91,410,801 (DeMar DeRozan)

2023-24: Kentucky

1. Kentucky: $398,186,385 (Anthony Davis)

2. Duke: $301,344,150 (Kyrie Irving)

3. UCLA: $152,960,703 (Zach LaVine)

4. Kansas: $123,094,326 (Joel Embiid)

5. Villanova: $115,560,989 (Kyle Lowry)

6. Texas: $113,097,794 (Kevin Durant)

7. Michigan: $107,461,641 (Jordan Poole)

8. Gonzaga: $103,918,714 (Domantas Sabonis)