Everyone talks about Victor Wembanyama’s future contract. But what about what the San Antonio Spurs are paying their entire roster right now? The Spurs have quietly assembled one of the most intriguing — and strategically constructed — payrolls in the Western Conference. De’Aaron Fox is earning max money. Wembanyama is still on a bargain rookie deal. And two first-round rookies are pulling in $12–13 million before they’ve even hit their prime.
This article gives you the complete, honest picture: every player’s salary, how the coach is being paid, who’s on the best value contract, and what the numbers mean for San Antonio’s championship timeline.
San Antonio Spurs Full Roster Salary 2025-26
The NBA salary cap for the 2025-26 season is approximately $141 million, with the luxury tax threshold sitting near $170 million. At roughly $185 million, the Spurs are above the cap but still below the luxury tax — a strategic position that preserves roster flexibility ahead of what promises to be a franchise-altering summer.
| # | Player | Position | Age | Annual Salary | Contract Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | De’Aaron Fox | PG | 28 | $37,100,000 | 2026 (new deal: $55.7M/yr from 2026-27) |
| 2 | Devin Vassell | SG/SF | 25 | $27,000,000 | 2029 |
| 3 | Harrison Barnes | PF | 33 | $19,000,000 | 2026 |
| 4 | Keldon Johnson | SF | 26 | $17,500,000 | 2027 |
| 5 | Kelly Olynyk | C/PF | 34 | $13,100,000 | 2026 |
| 6 | Victor Wembanyama | C/F | 22 | $13,376,880 | 2027 (RFA; max ext. eligible 2026) |
| 7 | Dylan Harper | PG/SG | 20 | $12,400,000 | 2029 |
| 8 | Stephon Castle | PG | 21 | $10,300,000 | 2028 |
| 9 | Luke Kornet | C | 30 | $10,200,000 | 2029 |
| 10 | Carter Bryant | SF | 19 | ~$5,800,000 | 2029 (rookie scale) |
| 11 | Kam Jones | SG | 23 | ~$577,000 | Two-Way Contract |
📌 Data sourced from SalaryLeaks, HoopsHype, Spotrac & Basketball-Reference (updated May 2026). Contract values are approximate and may vary by incentives.
🏆 Highest Paid Spurs Player: De’Aaron Fox ($37.1M/year)
When the Sacramento Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio in a blockbuster three-team deal in early 2025, few expected the Spurs to immediately hand him a massive contract. But that’s exactly what happened. Fox now earns $37.1 million per year — and when his new max extension kicks in for the 2026-27 season, that figure jumps to a staggering $55.7 million annually.
⚡ Key InsightFox is not just the highest paid Spur — he’s the second-most valuable trade asset San Antonio has made in the Wembanyama era. At 28, he’s in his prime, and pairing him with a healthy Wembanyama gives the Spurs one of the most dynamic guard-big combos in the West.
For context: Fox earns more per year than Steph Curry did on portions of his Golden State contracts, and significantly more than most All-Stars his age. His $713,000+ per week paycheck reflects both his elite-level scoring and the Spurs’ urgency to build around Wembanyama before his own mega-extension arrives.
👑 Victor Wembanyama — The Biggest Bargain in the NBA (For Now)
Here’s the number that will make your jaw drop: Victor Wembanyama — widely considered the most talented player on Earth right now — earns just $13.37 million in 2025-26. That’s barely more than journeyman center Luke Kornet ($10.2M) or veteran Kelly Olynyk ($13.1M).
Why so low? Wembanyama is still on his four-year, $55.17 million rookie scale contract signed when he was drafted first overall in 2023. His deal, while historically large for a rookie, is wildly undervalued compared to his actual impact on the court.
🔭 What Comes Next: The $300M ExtensionAs of May 2026, Wembanyama is eligible to sign a supermax extension with the Spurs this summer. ESPN’s Bobby Marks projects the deal at $252 million, while Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus estimates it could reach $255–$306 million over five years if Wembanyama wins additional awards. After his 41-point, 24-rebound double-overtime masterpiece against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals — the night SGA won MVP — his case for maximum compensation became unarguable.
🌟 Rookie Salaries: Harper, Castle & Jones
One of the most exciting aspects of the Spurs’ 2025-26 roster is their accumulation of young talent on cost-controlled contracts. Three players are on rookie deals simultaneously:
Dylan Harper — $12.4M/year (2nd Overall Pick, 2025)
Harper was selected second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and brings elite two-way scoring ability. His four-year rookie contract is worth an estimated $49.6 million total. San Antonio has positioned him to develop alongside Wembanyama as a future cornerstone.
Stephon Castle — $10.3M/year (2024 Rookie of the Year)
Castle won back-to-back Rookies of the Year alongside Wembanyama, cementing himself as a foundational piece. His 2024–2028 contract averages $10.3 million per year — outstanding value for a player of his caliber.
Kam Jones — ~$577K (Two-Way Contract)
The Spurs’ most economical contract belongs to Kam Jones, the 38th pick in 2025, currently on a two-way deal. He earns the minimum and splits time between the Spurs and their G League affiliate.
💬 What Reddit & X Are Saying About Spurs Salaries
Reddit: “Wemby earning $13M while putting up 40-point playoff games is the most insane team-friendly deal in NBA history. The Spurs are getting $300 million talent for $13M — that’s literally theft.”
Reddit: “De’Aaron Fox at $37M now and $55.7M next year alongside Wemby’s impending max… the Spurs payroll is going to be absolutely unhinged by 2027. But honestly? Worth it.”
x/twitter: “People sleep on the Spurs payroll structure. They have Wemby cheap, Castle cheap, Harper cheap, and still added Fox. That’s franchise building at its finest. The bill comes due in 2027 though 💀”
x/twitter: “Mitch Johnson went from interim coach to Western Conference Finals in one season. He deserves a serious raise. Whatever the Spurs are paying him, double it.”
🎯 Head Coach: Mitch Johnson — Salary & Profile
The coaching story in San Antonio is unlike anything in NBA history. After Gregg Popovich — the greatest coach in NBA history — suffered a stroke in November 2024, assistant Mitch Johnson stepped in as interim head coach. On May 2, 2025, Johnson was officially named the Spurs’ 19th head coach permanently.
Johnson’s exact salary is not publicly disclosed. However, based on comparable first-time NBA head coaches and his extraordinary success (he went 62-20 in his first full season as permanent coach), analysts estimate his annual earnings at $3 to $5 million per year.
📊 Pop’s Legacy in NumbersGregg Popovich, now serving as President of Basketball Operations, earned over $200 million in career coaching earnings. His final contract paid approximately $17 million per year — ranking second among all NBA coaches. By transitioning to the front office, Pop now serves as both mentor and strategic architect for the Wembanyama era.
📊 Luxury Tax Situation: The Spurs’ Strategic Advantage
Here’s something most fans miss: despite fielding a legitimate Western Conference Finals contender, the San Antonio Spurs are NOT in luxury tax territory in 2025-26.
Their ~$185 million payroll sits below the estimated $170M+ luxury tax threshold. This is largely because Wembanyama — their best player — is still on his rookie deal. That changes dramatically in 2026-27 once his max extension kicks in, potentially catapulting the Spurs into one of the league’s highest payrolls.
⚠️ The 2027 Financial Cliff: When Wembanyama ($50M+/yr), Fox ($55.7M/yr), and Vassell ($27M/yr) all appear together on the same salary sheet, the Spurs will likely face luxury tax payments for the first time in the modern era. Owner Peter J. Holt has signaled willingness to pay the price for a championship.
📈 San Antonio Spurs vs. Other NBA Teams — Payroll Comparison
| Team | 2025-26 Payroll (est.) | Luxury Tax Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | ~$232.5M | 🔴 Deep in tax | Highest in NBA |
| Golden State Warriors | ~$220M | 🔴 Luxury tax | Curry era final run |
| OKC Thunder | ~$195M | 🟡 Near threshold | SGA max |
| San Antonio Spurs | ~$185M | 🟢 Below tax | Strategic advantage |
| Memphis Grizzlies | ~$165M | 🟢 Under cap | Rebuilding mode |
✍️ Expert Take: What These Numbers Really Mean
The San Antonio Spurs have engineered one of the most balanced and forward-thinking payrolls in the NBA. They’re fielding a Western Conference Finals team while staying below the luxury tax — something only possible because Victor Wembanyama is still criminally underpaid on his rookie deal.
The clock is ticking. Starting in 2026-27, the Spurs will enter a new financial reality. Fox at $55.7M, Wembanyama likely at $50M+, and Vassell at $27M means a payroll potentially north of $220–$230 million — firmly in luxury tax country. But if this team wins a title first? Every dollar will be worth it.
This is the most talented Spurs team since the Tim Duncan championship era. Mitch Johnson has exceeded every expectation. And Wembanyama — at just 22 — is becoming the best player on the planet.
❓ 10 Frequently Asked Questions
The average San Antonio Spurs player salary for 2025-26 is approximately $11 million per year. With a total payroll of roughly $184–187 million spread across 18 players, the Spurs sit in the middle tier of NBA team averages.
De’Aaron Fox is the highest paid Spur, earning $37.1 million per year on his current deal. His new max extension, kicking in from 2026-27, will pay him $55.7 million annually.
Despite being widely considered a top-3 player in the world, Wembanyama earns just $13.37 million in 2025-26 — his third year on a four-year, $55.17 million rookie scale contract. He becomes eligible for a massive max extension (projected $252–$306 million) in summer 2026.
The Spurs’ total payroll is approximately $184–187 million for 2025-26, placing them around 20th in the league by spending. They are below the luxury tax threshold, giving them financial flexibility heading into Wembanyama’s extension summer.
Mitch Johnson is the 19th head coach of the Spurs, succeeding the legendary Gregg Popovich. Johnson’s salary is not publicly disclosed, but is estimated at $3–5 million per year based on industry norms for first-time NBA head coaches. In his first full season (2025-26), he led the team to a remarkable 62-20 record and the Western Conference Finals.
Devin Vassell earns $27 million per year on his 5-year contract with San Antonio (2024–2029), making him the second highest paid player on the roster. He was the centerpiece of the Spurs’ future before the Fox and Harper acquisitions.
Dylan Harper, the 2nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, earns approximately $12.4 million per year on his 4-year rookie scale deal (2025–2029). He gives the Spurs enormous value for a player of his potential.
Kam Jones, selected 38th overall in the 2025 Draft and on a two-way contract, earns approximately $577,000 for the 2025-26 season — the lowest on the active roster. He splits time between the Spurs and their G League affiliate.
No. The San Antonio Spurs are NOT in luxury tax territory for 2025-26. With a payroll of ~$185 million and a luxury tax threshold estimated near $170–175 million, the Spurs remain financially agile — a deliberate strategy to accommodate Wembanyama’s upcoming max extension.
Wembanyama becomes eligible for a supermax extension with the Spurs in summer 2026. ESPN’s Bobby Marks projects a deal of approximately $252 million, while Bleacher Report estimates it could reach $255–$306 million over five years depending on award bonuses — making it one of the largest contracts in NBA history.
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