NBA Players: 5 Superstars who will surprisingly earn less than $30 million this season

#4 Nikola Jokic - $26,573,595

Nikola Jokic was 89th on Forbes' Ranking of The World's Highest-Paid Athletes.

From a rookie contract pay of under $1.5 million in 2017-18, straight up to $24.6 million last year on the first season of the maximum five-year, $148 million contract extension, the Joker has come a long way.

Despite his rising curve, he is slated to make a paycheck in upwards of $30 million only in the 2021-21 season. For bragging rights, he will be bagging another $28,542,009 during the upcoming season. His importance to the Denver Nuggets franchise is something that needs to elaborate explanation, averaging career-highs of 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists during his 2018-19 campaign.

Playing on the 21st most valuable team in the NBA, the Serbian has officially made the big bucks for himself in the long run, on the heels of a breakout season where he garnered his first All-Star selection and an All-NBA First Team nod.