By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Everyone knew that the NBA salaries will skyrocket this summer and will continue to rise in the near future, however the news that Mike Conley has a five-year, $153-million deal that ranks as the richest in NBA history by total value is shocking, specially to Europe.
Conley, a great player but not even once an All-Star, will be the third player to make more than $30 million per year after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Kevin Durant is expected to get a similar deal if he returns to Oklahoma City Thunder, but the point is the financial reality on the other side of the Atlantic.
Conley’s annual salary is almost the guaranteed Euroleague revenues for next season, or six times the money that FIBA Champions League teams will share. Still they will be salaries in the NBA for far less than a million dollars and despite the low revenues, Euroleague stars are still getting paid – De Colo’s latest three year contract with CSKA Moscow equals approximately with a $20 million deal in the NBA because the taxes in Europe are paid by the club and perks like the rent of each player and a car are included in the contract – but it’s obvious that on general financial terms the gap between the NBA and Europe is getting wider and wider.