NBA: They made WHAT!?
Written by Benn Hodapp, Wednesday June 10 2009
As if the lot of us couldn't hate our lives any more right now with the absolute non-existence of money in our bank accounts, I have decided to make you come face to face with your own misery with a column that points out the absolute worst NBA contracts in the 2008-09 season.
Oh, don't despair. I'll also show a list of players who are underpaid. When you see the amount of money that corresponds with being 'underpaid' to play basketball, try not to reach for the second drawer on the right hand side that houses your Smith & Wesson.
The Fallen Stars Who Laugh Themselves Stupid When They Pick Up Their Check
Tracy McGrady - $21,126,874 (6th overall)
Shaquille O'Neal - $20,000,000 (8th overall)
Stephon Marbury - $19,862,275 (9th overall)
Steve Francis (yes, THAT Steve Francis) - $19,814,480 (10th overall)
Ben Wallace - $14,500,000 (25th overall)
The Guys Who Had That One Really Good Game That Made Them $60 Million
Jerome James - $6,200,000
Adonal Foyle - $6,800,000
Dan Gadzuric - $6,246,250
Eddy Curry - $9,723,983
You Really Gave These Guys a Contract Like This?
Wally Szczghsgguhvbhgvstre653ytu3bhjkjnlbiak - $13,000,000
Rasho Nesterovic - $8,400,000
Darko Milicic - $7,000,000
Marko Jaric - $6,575,000
Brian Cardinal - $6,300,000
Bobby Simmons - $9,920,000
Stromile Swift - $6,000,000
That's It. Game Over, World. I'm Done...
Antoine Walker - $8,854,475
Adonal Foyle - $1,262,277 (from MEM) (Yes, that is in addition to the $6.8 M from GS)
Juwan Howard - $7,375,500
Malik Rose - $7,647,500
Raef LaFrentz - $12,722,500
Darius Miles - $9,000,000
Kenny Thomas - $7,942,187
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (retired) - $6,200,000
Etan Thomas - $6,860,000
And Just To Make You Feel Extra Shitty...
Austin Croshere - $504,910 (He played as many, maybe fewer, minutes in the NBA as I did this year.)
The All-Underpaid Team
Rajon Rondo - $1,646,784
Rodney Stuckey - $1,687,320
Danny Granger - $2,329,804
Al Thornton - $1,776,240
Rudy Gay - $2,579,400
Jamario Moon - $711,517
Ramon Sessions - $711,517
Randy Foye - $2,815,560
Chris Paul - $4,574,189 (jumps to $13,758,000 next year)
Antonio Daniels (Paul's backup) - $6,200,000 (included just for comparison)
David Lee - $1,788,033
There is something wrong with someone who is terrible at their job getting paid $9 million a year. It isn't just athletes who reap these benefits. There are CEOs of companies all over the country and the world who make their money off of lies, deceit, pollution and criminal activity.
What sucks for the masses is that the vast majority of us are honest, hard working people who are good at our jobs. Let's face it, if we weren't good we would be fired. We aren't kept around for salary cap reasons or as trade bait. When we get cut we don't get Steve Francis' salary. We get a pink slip, maybe a handshake and a box in which to put our belongings.
They say money isn't everything and I agree with that. But it sure as hell makes a lot of things easier.
ooooooooooooh, a dime!
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3 comments
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Also missing from this list is the 6th highest paid player in the NBA, Allen Iverson at $20,840,625. The Pistons traded for him and then kindly asked him to go away so they could win. If that's "The Answer", then I'm afraid to even ask what the question is.
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Benn, the Sixers are paying C Samuel Dalembert $11,238,564 and he can't play. To make matters worse, ex-GM Billy King, gave this stiff a 15% trade kicker which makes him virtually untradeable. Hey Billy, when you screw a fanbase that bad the least you could do is give us a reach-around. Knowwhatimsayin?
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btw, Ben Wallace is the highest paid Cavalier. carry on...