By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
The prompt for the feature was a tweet from ESPN about LeBron James’s contract with the Lakers and his revenues for next season.
It’s just that, not only does King James not have the most expensive current contract, he’s only fourth in earnings per second.
For the sake of comparison here are the Top 10 EuroLeague contracts. So take a deep breath and read about the NBA Top 10.
#10. KEVIN DURANT (Golden State Warriors)
Total contract value: $61.500.000 (68th) until 2020
Contract value 2018-19: $30.000.000 (11th)
Average contract value: $30.750.000
Per second: $130.2
It’s his third season with the Warriors, third contract since the summer of 2016, again for 1+1 years, having turned down the +1 on the previous two, aiming at higher earnings. Not that $61.500.000 until 2020 is a lot for a back-to-back Finals MVP. Besides, he’s 68th in the relevant ranking, but at least in terms of average value, it’s enough to get him in the Top 10. Obviously, the $130.2 per second is not a small amount.
#9. GORDON HAYWARD (Boston Celtics)
Total contract value: $127.829.970 until 2021 (14th)
Contract value 2018-19: $31.214.295 (6th)
Average contract value: $31.957.493
Per second: $135.3
His contract is the most expensive in the Celtics and the 14th most expensive in the NBA, but due to a serious injury last season (fractured tibia and dislocated ankle in his left leg), he didn’t manage to play for more than 5:15. Or, in this case, for… $42.620, since this is the amount that corresponds to his playing time in last season’s premiere, based on the $135.3 he makes per second. It goes without saying that he’d trade in the full value of his contract for never having been injured.
#8. KYLE LOWRY (Toronto Raptors)
Total contract value: $100.000.000 until 2020 (26th)
Contract value 2018-19: $31.000.000 (7th)
Average contract value: $33.333.333
Per second: $141.1
His second contract with the Raptors (he arrived in Toronto in 2012 through a trade, he renewed for 4 years in 2014, on the last year he declined his option but then renewed for 3 years in 2017) makes him the highest paid player on the team, he was the second highest paid while DeMar DeRozan was still around (now with the Spurs). With $33.333.333 annually until 2020, the amount of $141 per second places him at eighth place in the ranking.
#7. PAUL GEORGE (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Total contract value: $136.911.936 until 2022 (12th)
Contract value 2018-19: $30.560.700 (8th)
Average contract value: $34.227.984
Per second: $144.9
Born in Palmdale, California, he has repeatedly stated that playing for the Lakers has been a lifelong dream. Even though he was a free agent, the new season will find him playing in the colors of the Thunder as the second highest paid player on the team. For every second he plays or thinks about whether and when he will finally join the Lakers, he will be $144.9 richer.
#6. BLAKE GRIFFIN (Detroit Pistons)
Total contract value: $171.174.820 until 2022 (3rd)
Contract value 2018-19: $32.088.932 (5th)
Average contract value: $34.234.964
Per second: $145
Even though he will enter his second season with the Pistons, in theory, he’s still getting paid by the Clippers, because before he was traded (in January of 2018) he hadn’t even exhausted the second year of his 5-year renewal. The $171.174.820 until 2022 he was paid then, place him 3rd on the list of the most expensive current contracts, and his average value – worth $34.234.964 – will be adding $145 per second to his bank account.