By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net/ Follow: @AStroggylakis
The Sacramento Kings had made it abundantly clear throughout the season how much they wanted to bring Bogdan Bogdanovic on board. Well, as he’s going to make the leap, they are about to seriously pay him. Big time.
Bogdanovic is set to become the highest-paid rookie in the history of the NBA when it comes to “per year” earnings. That’s because although he’ going to be a first-timer in the league, he’s gone well past the rookie salary scale since he was drafted back in 2014.
The Serbian guard has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal with the Kings (UPDATE: As it turned out the final number is $27 million, still Bogdanovic remains the highest paid rookie of all time with a deal that pays him $9 million per season). If these news are confirmed, then what we have in front of us is a record “per season” bargain for someone who’d never stepped on NBA floors before. It’s a deal that doesn’t only display Vlade Divac’s unyielding faith in the potential that his fellow Serb carries but also shows how much the Sacramento GM adamantly believes that Bogdanovic can make an immediate impact for the struggling Kings. Hence the unprecendently large salary for someone who has yet to debut in the best league of the planet.
The rookie salary scale applies only to first-round picks and none was ever paid as much as Bogdan when first penciling an NBA deal. When it comes to players who signed after being selected in the second round, or without being drafted before, Spanish swingman Alex Abrines is the owner of the record thanks to the $5,9 million of the first year of the contract he inked with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Regarding first-round picks, Glenn Robinson still holds the record for an overall contract sum, since he signed a 10-year, $68 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks back in 1994. However his annual salary wasn’t anywhere near to what Bogdanovic will receive by the Kings.