Paul Pierce is the highest-paid of the eight former Kansas University basketball players currently toiling in the NBA.

Pierce, an All-Star with the Boston Celtics, will earn $11,326,219 this season, according to salary figures published by USA Today.

Utah center Greg Ostertag is the next highest-paid former KU player at $8,666,666.

The third highest-paid former Jayhawk is Raef LaFrentz, a teammate of Pierce’s with the Celtics, at $8,178,750. The 6-foot-11 LaFrentz underwent knee surgery Monday and will miss the remainder of the season.

Other former Jayhawks, with teams and salaries:

• Scot Pollard, Indiana, $5,310,000.
• Drew Gooden, Orlando, $3,004,500.
• Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, $2,098,600
• Nick Collison, Seattle, $1,578,000. (Collison will miss the season with shoulder injuries).
• Jacque Vaughn, Atlanta, $813,000.