With the arrival of July, this year's offseason NBA free market has ushered in the opening stage. In order to continue to strengthen, each team is also making every effort to sign strong new players during this period. Of course, in addition to transactions and the signing of free agents, many stars have also completed contract extensions with their home teams this summer, and contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars are emerging one after another. People have to lament that today is really a money-burning era.
Today's stars often earn more than 30 million in annual salary, which is unimaginable for the legendary stars in the past. However, if we want to say that the first star to earn 20 million and 30 million in annual salary was actually in the 1990s, Many fans may find it hard to believe, but this is indeed true. Next, let us take a look at who is the first person with an annual salary of tens of millions in each category.
. Ten million: Patrick Ewing
The 1990s was definitely an important period for the NBA, because under the leadership of Michael Jordan, the NBA was more widely promoted, and basketball became one of the trendy sports in the world. . Also because of the increasing attention, the treatment of NBA stars has been greatly improved. Among them, the New York Knicks are in the metropolis . After all, there is a giant boss who is not short of money behind them. Therefore, the wages of the players represented by Ewing have skyrocketed.
In 1995, the NBA signed sky-high live broadcast contracts with many media and top TV stations. Later, in order to keep Ewing, whose contract had expired, the Knicks used the "Bird Clause" to sign him. He signed a four-year contract worth US$68 million, and his annual salary of US$18.72 million also made Ewing the first player in NBA history to receive an annual salary of tens of millions.
Although Ewing had begun to decline at the time, since he was selected by the team in 1985, Ewing has been dedicating everything to the Knicks. Even if he failed to win the championship, the Knicks during this period 's record and attention are the highest except for the championship era, so this contract is what Ewing deserves.
Not to mention 1999, the 36-year-old Ewing was still able to score 17.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, and once again sent the Knicks to the Finals.
. Twenty million, thirty million: Michael Jordan
That’s right, Jordan has made the NBA’s popularity reach a new historical stage since it completed its first comeback. After leading the Bulls to a top-notch record of 72 wins and 10 losses, Jordan helped the team pass all the way in the playoffs and easily won the championship that year, helping the team start their second three consecutive championships. prelude.
However, in the summer of 1996, a lot of things happened. In addition to the 1996 golden generation led by Kobe , Iverson , Marbury and others entering the league, many legendary stars also had their contracts expire this summer and ushered in a rush to renew their contracts. For the Bulls who have just completed the championship, retaining Jordan is the top priority.
However, the situation is not optimistic. The wealthy Knicks directly announced that they would take Jordan, and the boss was even more blunt. We can give Jordan a blank check, and he can fill in the amount on it himself. In order to keep Jordan, the Bulls chose to renew his contract, the largest in history at the time. The result was a two-year, $63.28 million contract. You must know that the team's salary cap at that time was only US$24 million, and only Jordan could get such a terrifying contract.
However, the two subsequent championships are enough to prove how valuable Jordan's contract is.
. Forty million: Stephen Curry
Ten years ago in the 11-12 season, the final champion of this season the Golden State Warriors was just a weak team at the time, and Stephen Curry, who later became famous at the time, was He was only in his third grade. Due to injuries, he only played 26 games, averaging only 14.7 points per game, and was reimbursed for the season early. With his future uncertain, Curry accepted the team's four-year, $44 million contract extension.With the rise of Curry, the Warriors enjoyed endless benefits during Curry's contract. Curry won two MVPs during this period and helped the team win multiple championships.
In order to repay the greatest star in team history, the Warriors sincerely gave Curry a five-year, US$201 million contract in the summer of 2017. At that time, he became the first player in NBA history to receive four points. A player with an annual salary of tens of millions of dollars. And Curry has lived up to the team's trust. Even after the team lost the 2019 Finals and sank for 2 years, he once again helped the Warriors return to the Finals this season and won the championship again after 4 years. His performance can be said to be outstanding. Impressive.
4.50 million: Giannis Antetokounmpo
With the development of the times, today's NBA salary cap is no longer as small as it was in the 1990s when it was only 24 million US dollars, and what followed This is the birth of many super contracts.
After Curry, stars including Lillard, Harden, Westbrook and other stars have received contracts worth more than 40 million. And just in the summer of 2020, the first annual salary in NBA history The 50 million contract was finally born, and the winner was Antetokounmpo Antetokounmpo .
Although in the 19-20 season, the Bucks who hoped to win the championship once again fell in the Eastern Conference playoffs, Antetokounmpo's personal ability and influence have reached an unprecedented level. Not only did he win this year He won the two awards of regular season MVP and best defensive player, and also received this huge contract of 228 million U.S. dollars in 5 years. In the 25-26 season, he has an annual salary of 51.9 million U.S. dollars. Although there are considerable risks in such a huge contract, Antetokounmpo rewarded the team in the first year of signing this contract. Under his leadership, the Bucks won the championship last season. Antetokounmpo This also established his status as the top three or even the first player in active service.
Now it seems that the Bucks' contract seems even more valuable.
