Last Updated on May 26, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Antawn Jamison’s NBA contract history reflects the financial path of one of the league’s most durable and productive forwards during the late 1990s and 2000s. From his rookie-scale years after being drafted by the Toronto Raptors and immediately traded to the Golden State Warriors, through multiple high-value extensions and veteran contracts later in his career, Jamison consistently remained a highly paid offensive cornerstone across several franchises. Spotrac lists his total NBA career earnings at more than $140 million, placing him among the highest-earning forwards of his generation.
What makes Antawn Jamison contract history especially interesting is how stable and valuable his market remained for such a long stretch. Jamison was never considered the absolute face of the NBA, but teams repeatedly invested major money in him because of his scoring consistency, durability, professionalism, and versatility. His contract timeline also intersects with several notable NBA eras, including Golden State’s early-2000s rebuilding years, the Gilbert Arenas-era Washington Wizards, and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ attempts to build contenders around LeBron James.
Antawn Jamison Contract Agreements (As Signed)
This table tracks each major contract event as Antawn Jamison and his NBA teams agreed to them at the time: rookie contracts, extensions, trades, free-agent signings, and veteran deals.
| Date | Age | Team | Contract Move | Reported Terms | Seasons Affected | Clauses / Options | Detailed Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 1998 | 22 | Toronto Raptors | Drafted No. 4 overall | Draft rights acquired | 1998 draft rights | Draft-night selection | Jamison was selected fourth overall before immediately being traded to Golden State in exchange for Vince Carter. |
| June 24, 1998 | 22 | Golden State Warriors | Acquired via draft-night trade | Rights traded from Toronto | 1998 onward | Draft-night trade | Golden State viewed Jamison as a foundational scorer and frontcourt building block. |
| July 1998 | 22 | Golden State Warriors | Signed rookie-scale contract | Multi-year rookie contract | 1998-99 onward | Rookie-scale structure | Jamison entered the NBA on the standard rookie salary structure for top lottery picks. |
| October 2001 | 25 | Golden State Warriors | Rookie extension signed | Approximately 6 years, $86 million | 2002-03 onward | Long-term extension | Golden State committed franchise-level money to Jamison after he developed into one of the league’s premier scoring forwards. |
| August 3, 2003 | 27 | Dallas Mavericks | Acquired via trade | Existing extension contract absorbed | 2003-04 onward | Trade transaction | Dallas acquired Jamison in a major trade involving Nick Van Exel as the Mavericks strengthened their offense-heavy roster. |
| August 5, 2004 | 28 | Washington Wizards | Acquired via trade | Existing contract moved again | 2004-05 onward | Trade transaction | Washington traded for Jamison to form a high-scoring trio alongside Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes. |
| June 30, 2008 | 32 | Washington Wizards | Veteran extension signed | 4 years, approximately $50 million | 2008-09 onward | Long-term veteran extension | The Wizards rewarded Jamison after several highly productive scoring seasons in Washington. |
| February 17, 2010 | 33 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Acquired via trade | Existing extension contract absorbed | 2009-10 onward | Trade deadline transaction | Cleveland acquired Jamison in an effort to maximize the Cavaliers’ championship chances around LeBron James. |
| February 24, 2012 | 35 | Los Angeles Lakers | Bought out and waived | Remaining salary partially settled | 2011-12 | Buyout agreement | Cleveland and Jamison agreed to a buyout as the Cavaliers transitioned into a rebuilding phase. |
| July 25, 2012 | 36 | Los Angeles Lakers | Signed free-agent contract | 1 year, veteran minimum | 2012-13 | Veteran minimum contract | Jamison joined the Lakers in a reduced scoring role on a veteran deal. |
| September 2013 | 37 | Los Angeles Clippers | Signed free-agent contract | 1 year, veteran minimum | 2013-14 | Final NBA contract | Jamison signed with the Clippers for what became the final season of his NBA career. |
Antawn Jamison NBA Salaries by Season (Actual Salary Paid)
This table tracks Antawn Jamison’s salary by NBA season, showing how his earnings evolved across his 16-year NBA career.
| Season | Age | Salary | Cumulative Career Earnings | Contract Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 22 | $2,630,640 | $2,630,640 | Rookie contract |
| 1999-00 | 23 | $2,960,760 | $5,591,400 | Rookie contract |
| 2000-01 | 24 | $3,290,880 | $8,882,280 | Rookie contract |
| 2001-02 | 25 | $4,520,000 | $13,402,280 | Rookie extension bridge |
| 2002-03 | 26 | $9,280,000 | $22,682,280 | Warriors extension |
| 2003-04 | 27 | $10,530,000 | $33,212,280 | Mavericks contract |
| 2004-05 | 28 | $11,780,000 | $44,992,280 | Wizards contract |
| 2005-06 | 29 | $13,030,000 | $58,022,280 | Wizards contract |
| 2006-07 | 30 | $14,280,000 | $72,302,280 | Wizards contract |
| 2007-08 | 31 | $15,530,000 | $87,832,280 | Wizards contract |
| 2008-09 | 32 | $16,400,000 | $104,232,280 | Wizards extension |
| 2009-10 | 33 | $17,000,000 | $121,232,280 | Wizards/Cavaliers contract |
| 2010-11 | 34 | $15,076,000 | $136,308,280 | Cavaliers contract |
| 2011-12 | 35 | $15,076,000 | $151,384,280 | Cavaliers contract |
| 2012-13 | 36 | $1,352,181 | $152,736,461 | Lakers veteran contract |
| 2013-14 | 37 | $1,399,507 | $154,135,968 | Final NBA season |
| TOTAL | Approximately $154,135,968 | Approximately $154,135,968 | Six NBA franchises |
Analysis
Antawn Jamison’s contract history is largely defined by long-term consistency. Unlike many stars whose financial value fluctuated dramatically because of injuries, controversies, or steep declines, Jamison maintained strong market value throughout most of his prime because teams trusted his offensive production and durability. His first major extension with Golden State established him as one of the NBA’s highest-paid scoring forwards during the early 2000s.
The most important financial phase of Jamison’s career came during his Washington Wizards years. Playing alongside Gilbert Arenas, Jamison consistently averaged high scoring totals while maintaining excellent availability, which helped him secure another substantial extension in 2008. At that point, he had become one of the NBA’s most reliable veteran offensive players even if he was rarely discussed among the league’s absolute superstars.
His move to Cleveland in 2010 also carried major financial and historical significance. The Cavaliers traded for Jamison during LeBron James’ final season of his first Cleveland stint, hoping his scoring could help deliver a championship. Although the experiment ultimately failed, it placed Jamison directly into one of the defining roster-building periods of that NBA era.
Late in his career, Jamison transitioned into the veteran-minimum phase common for aging former stars. His contracts with the Lakers and Clippers reflected the league’s perception of him as a respected veteran bench scorer rather than a franchise centerpiece. Still, because of the major extensions he secured during his prime, Jamison finished his NBA career with more than $150 million in total earnings and one of the steadiest long-term financial profiles among forwards of his generation.
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