There are five teams in the NBA who will enter the 21-22 season with three or more players on their roster making 25 percent or more of the salary cap. The Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers comprise the five teams who meet that criteria.

Additionally, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics nearly have a trio each making 25 percent of the cap, while the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns will likely have third stars on max contracts beginning in 22-23.

"This is the era of stars and scrubs roster construction," writes Owen Phillips at The F5. "Where title contenders are shelling out big bucks for high-end talent and using the remainder of their cap space on rookie deals, bargain contracts, and veteran minimums. As you can see in the chart below, the middle class — especially the upper middle class — of NBA players has begun to thin out as a result."

Phillips writes that there were 24 players earning salaries within five percentage points of a max, but that the number dropped to 16 five years ago and now stands at seven heading into 21-22.