Damian Lillard Salary: Bucks Star Is the First Player in NBA History to Earn $60M a Year—When Will It Happen?

Damian Lillard - Charlotte Hornets v Milwaukee Bucks
(Photo : Stacy Revere/Getty Images) MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - Damian Lillard (#0) of the Milwaukee Bucks waits for a free throw during a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Fiserv Forum on February 09, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is widely acknowledged as one of the most skilled point guards in the game's history, a recognition solidified by his inclusion in the league's 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the 33-year-old spent the initial 11 seasons of his professional career with the franchise.

During this tenure, Lillard established himself as the team's all-time leading scorer and three-point leader.

In the 2023 offseason, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team deal involving the Phoenix Suns. 

Let's look into Damian Lillard's contract details, salary, and career earnings.

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Damian Lillard Contract: $196 million

In the summer of 2019, Lillard, with two seasons remaining on his prior contract, agreed to a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers.

This extension covered the 2021-22 season to the 2024-25 season, showing Lillard's strong commitment to the franchise.

Notably, the terms of the contract remained in effect despite the significant trade that sent the eight-time NBA All-Star to the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer of 2023.

Damian Lillard's Future Contract

Lillard has shown a tendency to secure contract extensions ahead of time, exemplified by his decision to sign another two-year extension worth $122 million during the summer of 2022.

This extension is set to cover the 2025-26 season and the 2026-27 season, with the latter year featuring a player option. While the player option allows Lillard to decide his course, the massive value of $63.2 million for that year makes it highly likely that he would choose to accept it. 

Damian Lillard's Career Earnings

By the conclusion of the 2023-24 NBA season, Lillard is anticipated to have amassed $279.3 million exclusively from his NBA salary over his first 12 seasons in the league, according to Spotrac.

This calculation excludes potential earnings from off-court ventures such as endorsements and partnerships. The mentioned amount does not account for deductions like taxes, agent fees, or other business-related expenses.

As Lillard's contract concludes after the 2026-27 NBA season, the two-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion is expected to have accumulated career earnings surpassing $441 million if he chooses the player option in the final year of his deal.

Based on the current contracts signed, this would position him as the sixth-highest-earning player in league history.

Damian Lillard's Salary 2023-24

In the ongoing 2023-24 NBA season, Lillard is set to earn $45.6 million, according to numbers from HoopsHype.

This salary positions him as the highest-paid player on the Milwaukee Bucks roster and ranks him the 10th highest-paid player across the entire league for the current campaign.

Looking forward, Lillard's salary is projected to increase to $48.7 million in the 2024-25 season, marking the final year of his current contract.

Upon the start of his extension for the 2025-26 season, his earnings are expected to rise to $58.5 million before reaching a peak at $63.2 million in the 2026-27 season. The latter is a player option and marks the final year of his future contract.

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