Who is the most expensive basketball player transfer ever? Ranking the highest buy-outs in history

When discussing transfers, football and basketball operate very differently. Football clubs usually pay large fees to sign players, while basketball often relies on buyout clauses or contract settlements. However, this mostly occurs in European or Asian leagues rather than major competitions like the NBA. In this article, basketscores.com answers the question: Who is the most expensive basketball player transfer ever?

Most expensive basketball player transfers of all time

Information updated as of March 2026.

10. Ricky Rubio (Joventut Badalona → FC Barcelona, 2009, €3.7m)

This can be considered one of the most complicated transfers in basketball history. Ricky Rubio was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft, but his contract with Joventut Badalona included a buyout clause of around €5-6 million. After lengthy negotiations and legal discussions, FC Barcelona agreed to pay approximately €3.7 million to Joventut Badalona to obtain Rubio’s rights. Rubio played two seasons with Barcelona before eventually moving to the Minnesota Timberwolves after paying a smaller buyout.

9. Paolo Moretti (Scaligera Basket Verona → Virtus Bologna, 1992, €3.8m)

One of the most notable transfers in Italian basketball history involved Paolo Moretti moving from Scaligera Basket Verona to Virtus Bologna. At that time, Moretti was a rising star and a key player who helped Verona win the Coppa Italia in 1991. The following year, Virtus Bologna signed him for €3.8 million, and he went on to help the team win several major trophies between 1992 and 1994, becoming one of Italy’s most reliable scorers.

8. Riccardo Morandotti (Berloni Torino → Virtus Bologna, 1990, €4m)

The transfer of Riccardo Morandotti from Berloni Torino to Virtus Bologna in 1990 was also one of the most famous deals of that era. Determined to build a strong squad, Virtus Bologna president Alfredo Cazzola decided to bring Morandotti to the club. The deal was completed for €4 million and at the time became one of the most expensive transfers involving an Italian domestic player, breaking financial limits within the league.

7. Riccardo Pittis (Olimpia Milano → Benetton Treviso, 1993, €4.5m)

Another major transfer in Italian basketball saw Riccardo Pittis move from Olimpia Milano to Benetton Treviso. At that time, Treviso was emerging as a new force aiming to challenge dominant clubs such as Virtus Bologna and Milano. The club shocked many observers by paying €4.5 million for Pittis, who was Milano’s biggest star. Pittis later spent the rest of his career with Treviso, winning four Italian league titles, seven Italian Cups, and two Saporta Cups.

6. Carlton Myers (Rimini → Fortitudo Bologna, 1995, €4.5m)

By the mid-1990s, Carlton Myers had become one of Italy’s best basketball players, especially after scoring a record 87 points in a single game in 1995. Fortitudo Bologna decided to invest €4.5 million to sign him from Rimini, making Myers one of the most expensive players in European basketball at that time. He soon became the team’s star player and helped Fortitudo win the Italian league title in 2000.

5. Facundo Campazzo (Real Madrid → Denver Nuggets, 2020, €5.25m)

One of the few recent examples of a high-value basketball transfer involved Facundo Campazzo. The Argentine point guard was one of Europe’s top players in the late 2010s while playing for Real Madrid. When he decided to join the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, his contract required a buyout of more than €5 million. Campazzo agreed to cover the clause in order to complete the move. After three seasons in the NBA, he returned to Real Madrid in 2023.

4. Andrea Niccolai (Montecatini → Virtus Roma, 1991, €6m)

Andrea Niccolai was considered one of the brightest young talents in Italian basketball during the early 1990s. Because of his potential, several clubs were interested in signing him. In the end, Virtus Roma paid around €6 million to Montecatini to complete the transfer. The fee was so large that it became a major topic in Italian financial newspapers at the time, as many considered it an extraordinary amount for a basketball player.

3. Stefano Rusconi (Pallacanestro Varese → Benetton Treviso, 1991, €7.6m)

In the early 1990s, Stefano Rusconi was regarded as one of the best centers in Italian basketball. However, Varese could not meet the financial demands required to keep their star player. As a result, Rusconi moved to Benetton Treviso for €7.6 million, one of the most expensive transfers in Italian basketball history. He later played a key role in helping Treviso win their first Italian league title in 1992 and reach the EuroLeague final.

2. Dino Rađa (Boston Celtics → Panathinaikos, 1997, €8.5m)

In 1997, Dino Rađa decided to leave the NBA after several seasons with the Boston Celtics and return to Europe. Panathinaikos offered him a very lucrative contract worth around €2 million per season (tax-free), which was extremely high at the time. In addition, the Greek club paid approximately €8.5 million to the Boston Celtics to release him from his contract. This made the deal one of the most valuable transfers in European basketball history.

1. Yao Ming (Shanghai Sharks → Houston Rockets, 2002, €12.9m)

The transfer of Yao Ming from the Shanghai Sharks to the Houston Rockets in 2002 remains a historic deal, not only in sporting terms but also financially and culturally. The payment structure was unique, as the money was gradually paid over several years and partly linked to Yao Ming’s NBA earnings, including salary and endorsement deals. Because of its size and impact, this remains the most expensive basketball transfer ever recorded.

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