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The players producing the most on-court value beyond what they're paid in 2026–2027, ranked by surplus value.
By Money on the Floor · Updated Nov 6, 2026
Surplus value is the difference between a player's estimated on-court production value and his actual salary. The bigger the surplus, the better the contract by Money on the Floor's measure.
How we measure valueThe shot-blocking alone demands attention. Getting that alongside major scoring and rebounding makes him a compelling centerpiece.
An offense worth building around: prolific scoring, a high share of shots made and the passing to keep teammates involved.
His larger sample shows accurate shooting and passing in limited minutes. There is a compact offensive contribution here.
Scoring that can carry an offense, passing that can run one. Getting both from the same player is the argument for building around him.
You're getting a scorer, a playmaker and a rebounder in one roster spot. That's a lot of value to find anywhere, let alone in one center.
Scoring and passing without a leading scorer's share of the minutes. The case is an offensive contribution that fits into a smaller portion of the game.
Offensive boards keep possessions alive, and blocks give him work at the other end. His own scoring is a smaller part of the center's case.
The foul line is a major source of his scoring, and the passing is a big part of his game as a forward. There is offense to put in teammates' hands, too.
A wing who can carry a scoring load and take the ball back. The outside accuracy makes an already formidable scorer harder to overlook.
A forward whose passing deserves to lead the description. Pair it with his scoring and rebounding, and you have several offensive jobs in one player.
The offensive glass earns the headline. Blocks and some outside shooting give you more than a rebounder to work with.
The offensive glass is where he earns attention. He can add another chance to possessions without needing many shots of his own.
Frequent threes supply much of the scoring, while the passing adds work beyond the jumper. A defined offensive contribution for a backcourt.
Steals and offensive rebounds are the attraction. He can win the ball without needing to be the scorer or the outside shooter.
Frequent, accurate threes anchor a serious scoring contribution. The outside shot is doing real work here.
The playmaking leads, with rebounding alongside it. You are getting a guard whose job can extend well beyond his own scoring.
The scoring gives an offense someone to lean on; the passing gives teammates a share of it. That is a strong place to start a backcourt.
The offensive boards are a striking part of a guard-forward's game. Add the passing and you get offense that scarcely depends on threes.
Taking the ball back is the clearest argument. The steals give him a contribution that a modest scoring total does not capture.
He makes a high share of his shots and adds offensive rebounds. A center's scoring job need not depend on threes.
He piles up points with barely a three in sight. Add rebounding and playmaking to that scoring, and you have the foundation of an offense.
Frequent threes with striking accuracy make the opening argument. Rebounding and passing give that shooting some company.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, by surplus value. He's producing an estimated $87.3M in on-court value on a $16.9M salary, a $70.5M surplus.
By surplus value, the most underpaid players are Victor Wembanyama ($70.5M), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($49.7M) and Ty Jerome ($46.3M). Underpaid here means estimated on-court value above salary, not a comparison with what a player would earn on the open market.
Among players earning $10M or more who've played at least half their team's games, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs returns the most value relative to his salary: an estimated $87.3M in on-court value on a $16.9M salary, 5.2 times what he's paid.
By surplus value: a player's estimated on-court production value for the season minus his actual salary. Production value comes from our Value on the Floor model, which turns on-court impact into a salary-equivalent dollar figure and updates daily. Players without a verified salary aren't ranked.
How we measure value
