Throughout league history, there are always players who are not at that top tier who get paid in the upper echelon.
We delved into instances where mere role players or high-quality starters received star-like paychecks, landing in the Top 20 in salaries for at least one season. Such situations might arise due to the market dynamics of the time or simply miscalculations by their front offices.
Here is a list that includes 22 players, including Chandler Parsons, Sam Bowie, and media personality Jalen Rose.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Highest rank: No. 15 in 2016-17
Salary that season: $22,116,750
Stephen Dunn/NBAE/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 11 in 1993-94
Salary that season: $3,575,000
Otto Greule/ALLSPORT
Highest rank: No. 15 in 1995-96
Salary that season: $4,800,000
Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 13 in 1996-97
Salary that season: $7,000,000
Tim de Frisco /Allsport
Highest rank: No. 13 in 1990-91
Salary that season: $2,300,000
HECTOR MATA/AFP via Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 7 in 1990-91
Salary that season: $2,640,000
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Highest rank: No. 11 in 2014-15
Salary that season: $19,317,326
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 10 in 2005-06
Salary that season: $16,006,220
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Highest rank: No. 15 in 2016-17
Salary that season: $22,116,750
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 10 in 1993-94
Salary that season: $3,587,000
Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 19 in 1990-91
Salary that season: $2,150,000
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Highest rank: No. 17 in 2017-18
Salary that season: $24,773,250
Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 12 in 2002-03
Salary that season: $12,999,998
Nick Laham/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 14 in 2005-06
Salary that season: $15,694,250
Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 16 in 1998-99
Salary that season: $9,000,000
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 14 in 2001-02
Salary that season: $12,375,000
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 19 in 2005-06
Salary that season: $13,975,000
Tim Defrisco/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 12 in 1990-91
Salary that season: $2,330,000
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 14 in 2005-06
Salary that season: $15,694,250
Jonathan Daniel/Allsport
Highest rank: No. 15 in 1994-95
Salary that season: $4,000,000
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Highest rank: No. 15 in 2016-17
Salary that season: $22,116,750
Getty Images
Highest rank: No. 2 in 1990-91
Salary that season: $3,785,000
