Usually, NBA teams have the goal of paying their top athletes large sums of money in hopes of having those players lead their franchises to the playoffs and beyond.
Of course, things don’t always work out that way. Sometimes, injuries occur and interfere with even the savviest or safest of plans. Other times, the talent on the rest of the roster behind the max-level players isn’t up to par, bringing the team as a whole down, or the star player simply doesn’t perform at a star level.
These situations result in some big-name players cashing in big money with no team success to show for it. Former Wizard guards Bradley Beal and John Wall are clear examples of this and actually lead the NBA historically in career earnings on teams with losing records.
You can check the Top 30 below.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Six (2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Seven (2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
Losing seasons: Nine (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Losing seasons: 10 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Six (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Nine (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021)
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: 12 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023)
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Eight (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Losing seasons: 10 (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Losing seasons: Nine (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Four (2013, 2020, 2022, 2023)
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Six (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Four (2011, 2018, 2020, 2021)
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Losing seasons: Six (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Six (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022)
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Seven (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Losing seasons: Four (2005, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Nine (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Losing seasons: 10 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Seven (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Losing seasons: 11 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Losing seasons: Seven (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Three (2009, 2021, 2022)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Eight (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: 11 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016)
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Five (2012, 2013, 2014, 2020, 2023)
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Nine (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024)
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Nine (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Chris Covatta/Getty Images
Losing seasons: Seven (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016)
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Losing seasons: Seven (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
