Who Has the Biggest Contract in NBA History?
Contents
In today’s NBA, player contracts are becoming increasingly large and team owners are shelling out big money to keep their stars happy. So who has the biggest contract in NBA history?
Introduction
In the world of professional sports, no contract is bigger than an NBA player’s. These athletes are some of the most sought-after in the world, and their contracts reflect that. While most NFL contracts are fully guaranteed, NBA contracts are not. This means that NBA players can be released from their teams at any time, making them even more valuable to their franchises.
The biggest contract in NBA history belongs to none other than Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. James signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Lakers in 2018. This deal eclipsed the previous record for the largest contract in NBA history, which was held by Kevin Durant. Durant signed a two-year, $54 million extension with the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
While James’ contract is the largest in NBA history, he is not the only player to sign a nine-figure deal. In 2017, Russell Westbrook signed a five-year extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder worth $205 million. This made him the first player in NBA history to sign a contract worth over $200 million.
The following is a list of the 20 largest contracts in NBA history:
1) LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (4 years, $154 million)
2) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (5 years, $205 million)
3) Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets (3 years, $90 million)
4) Mike Conley Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (5 years, $153 million)
5) Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (4 years, $196 million)
6) DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors (5 years, $139 million)
7) Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics (4 years, $128 million)
8 ) Blake Griffin , Detroit Pistons (5 years ,$171 million )
9) Al Horford , Boston Celtics (4 years ,$113 million )
10) Otto Porter Jr., Washington Wizards (4 years ,$106 million ) 11) Andre Drummond , Detroit Pistons (5 years ,$127 million )
12) Klay Thompson , Golden State Warriors (5 year s,,$190 million ) 13
The Biggest Contracts in NBA History
The NBA has seen a lot of big money contracts over the years, but which one is the biggest? The answer may surprise you. let’s take a look at some of the biggest contracts in NBA history.
Michael Jordan
In 1997, the Chicago Bulls signed Michael Jordan to a one-year contract worth $30 million, making him the highest paid player in NBA history. The Bulls went on to win the NBA championship that year, and Jordan was named MVP of the Finals. This was the first of three straight championships for the Bulls, cementing Jordan’s legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
LeBron James
LeBron James has signed some of the biggest contracts in NBA history. In 2014, he signed a two-year, $42.1 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2016, he signed a three-year, $100 million contract with the Cavs. And in 2018, he signed a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kevin Durant
In July 2016, Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors with a player option for the second year. Durant will make $25.1 million in 2017-18 and $30.6 million in 2018-19 if he opts in. He is currently the fourth highest-paid player in the NBA behind LeBron James, Mike Conley and James Harden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is very difficult to compare contracts from different eras because of the changing economic landscape and the way the salary cap has been structured over time. However, it is safe to say that LeBron James currently has the biggest contract in NBA history.