Boston Celtic Bill Russell signed a contract as the NBA's highest paid player, making one dollar more than arch-rival Wilt Chamberlain.
On August 25, 1965, Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell became the highest paid player in NBA history when he inked a deal that would pay him $100,001 per season over the next three years. The one dollar tacked on made him the highest paid man, as Wilt Chamberlain had held that distinction with a $100,000 contract of his own. The big man boldly predicted that he would lead the Celtics to an eighth straight championship title, and he backed it up by doing exactly that during the 1965-66 season including averaging 19 points, 25 rebounds and 5 assists in the postseason. Russell played through the '68-'69 season, and finished his career with 11 championships in 13 years of play.
$100,001 would equate to today to a little more than $814,000. When you look at the money that is being thrown around today, Russell would be one of the lowest paid players in the NBA today.
I don't know if he is the greatest but I know he is better than MJ