Shaquille O’Neal was paid a whopping $17.1 million a year in 2000; OG Anunoby earns more than that in today’s market.
Shaquille O’Neal was seen as a money-hungry athlete when he signed his ridiculous deal with the Lakers in 2000. The deal saw him earn over $100 million in 7 years, bringing his annual salary to around $17 million a year. For that amount of money, he could buy whatever he wanted. But compared to today’s salary, Shaq would cry if he was paid the same as rookies after his extension.
We are seeing an upward trend in wages. Are we closer to our first $100 million a year player? The data suggests we’re closer than we think because Damian Lillard just signed an extension that makes him $63 million a year in 2026-27. That kind of money will get you an ultra-luxurious 16,000-square-foot apartment on New York’s Upper East Side. And a good 3 million in change for a couple of Lamborghinis to fill up the garage.
Dame earns more money in a year than CEO of Adobe-to dribble and throw a ball into a net. And not even for 82 games a season, because most of it is injured. Sure, you get the views to back up your numbers, but what would you rather have? Best creative tools on the market or watching Dame take photos of the logo? Basketball is a very skewed sports market because the NFL has more viewership!
Also Read: “I Got The Michael Jackson Treatment In Australia!”: Shaquille O’Neal Describes His Time In Australia, Thanks People For Their Love
Shaquille O’Neal would be the guy who would make 100 million a year if he played today
The fun part about salaries is that just 5 years ago, we had the highest salary cap at 34 million. Just 10 years after Stephen Curry was the highest-paid player on the planet, we’ve seen the value double. There’s no way Dame will be twice as good as Steph in 2017, especially when he turns 37. Portland did it out of gratitude, as payment for the faith he showed. Unlike the Celtics, they know how to treat a player.
But Oregon PG aside, some legitimate superstars will hit their prime in 5 years. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Ja Morant are big name players who are still young enough to see at least three more big contracts. With the way things are progressing, one of these players is bound to hit that $100 million mark sooner rather than later.
It is not a question of if, but of when. Whether it is an exponential or linear curve, the number must be violated. Unless there are some harsh salary caps to discuss. Players are already paid more than 50% of the total revenue generated. If the CBA puts a stop to wage growth, we may see the trend stop abruptly. Until then, we can only see those numbers on the GTA V remaster or NBA 2K remaster, which will still suck five years from now.
Also read: Shaquille O’Neal will babysit his son for $200, and he’s good at it
