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The Highest Paid Players in Basketball: Top 25 2011-12 Salaries
Kobe Bryant Is the Highest Paid Player in the NBA This Season
Not long ago, Sports List of the Day ran down the highest paid players in baseball. Today, let’s take a look at the NBA, courtesy spotrac.com.
Here are the top 25 highest paid basketball players this season, led by king of the hill Kobe Bryant.
Now take a look at who’s in second. What? Rashard Lewis? Of the 11-34 Washington Wizards? Yeesh.
Did you know the Miami Heat‘s big three – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – all have similar contracts? The idea was to build a team to win championships. By contract, these guys are together through 2015-16.
And where is last year’s MVP dynamo, Derrick Rose? He’s only making $7.0 this year, but he’ll be on this list for the next four years at least.
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| PLAYER | TEAM | 2011-12 | CONTRACT | AVG SALARY | THROUGH | |
| 1. | Kobe Bryant | LAKERS | 25.2 | 3/$84 | 28.0 | 2013-14 |
| 2. | Rashard Lewis | WIZARDS | 22.2 | 6/$118.2 | 19.7 | 2012-13 |
| 3. | Tim Duncan | SPURS | 22.0 | 4/$40 | 10.0 | 2011-12 |
| 4. | Kevin Garnett | CELTICS | 21.2 | 3/$64.4 | 21.47 | 2011-12 |
| 5. | Dirk Nowitzki | MAVERICKS | 19.1 | 4/$80 | 20.0 | 2013-14 |
| 6. | Pau Gasol | LAKERS | 18.7 | 3/$57 | 19.0 | 2013-14 |
| 7. | Carmelo Anthony | KNICKS | 18.5 | 3/$67.1 | 22.37 | 2014-15* |
| 8. | Amar’e Stoudemire | KNICKS | 18.2 | 5/$99.7 | 19.94 | 2014-15 |
| 9. | Joe Johnson | HAWKS | 18.0 | 6/$123.7 | 20.62 | 2015-16 |
| 10. | Dwight Howard | MAGIC | 17.9 | 5/$80 | 16.0 | 2012-13 |
| 11. | Elton Brand | 76ERS | 17.1 | 5/$79.8 | 16.0 | 2012-13 |
| 12. | Zach Randolph | GRIZZLIES | 16.5 | 4/$71 | 17.75 | 2014-15* |
| 13. | Chris Paul | CLIPPERS | 16.4 | 4/$68 | 17.0 | 2012-13 |
| 13. | Deron Williams | NETS | 16.4 | 4/$70 | 17.5 | 2012-13* |
| 15. | LeBron James | HEAT | 16.0 | 6/$110 | 18.3 | 2015-16 |
| 15. | Chris Bosh | HEAT | 16.0 | 6/$110 | 18.3 | 2015-16 |
| 17. | Dwyane Wade | HEAT | 15.5 | 6/$107.5 | 17.92 | 2015-16 |
| 17. | Kevin Durant | THUNDER | 15.5 | 5/$86 | 17.2 | 2015-16 |
| 19. | Paul Pierce | CELTICS | 15.3 | 4/$61 | 15.33 | 2013-14 |
| 20. | Andrew Bynum | LAKERS | 15.2 | 4/$57.9 | 14.46 | 2012-13* |
| 21. | Antawn Jamison | CAVALIERS | 15.1 | 4/$50 | 12.5 | 2011-12 |
| 22. | Rudy Gay | GRIZZLIES | 15.0 | 5/$81.6 | 16.32 | 2014-15 |
| 23. | Chris Kaman | HORNETS | 14.0 | 5/$52.5 | 10.5 | 2011-12 |
| 23. | Al Jefferson | JAZZ | 14.0 | 5/$65 | 13.0 | 2012-13 |
| 25. | Andre Iguodala | 76ERS | 13.5 | 6/$80 | 13.33 | 2013-14* |
| 25. | Carlos Boozer | BULLS | 13.5 | 5/$75 | 15.0 | 2014-15 |
* Carmelo Anthony, Zach Randolph, Deron Williams and Andre Iguodala have player options for their final year that is included in contract terms above.
* Andrew Bynum’s option is a club option.
Photo: everyjoe.com
Mark Sanchez, Eli Manning and the NFL’s Current QB Contracts and Salaries
Eli Manning and Mark Sanchez Are Signed Through 2015 and 2016, Respectively
Both New York’s quarterbacks have been in contract news this week.
Eli Manning restructured his contract, giving the Giants almost $7M in additional cap space. The team took $9M of Manning’s $10.75 2012 base salary and redefined it as a bonus which will be paid over time. Result: Eli’s 2012 base salary is now $1.75M.
The Jets, after briefly looking into Peyton Manning with no “luck,” cashed their chips with Mark Sanchez. He signed a three-year extension keeping him Gang Green’s QB through 2016.
Here’s a look at the NFL’s starting quarterbacks’ contracts and their annual base salary breakdown (as of the date of this post).
You might see something not adding up when you tally the annual salaries and compare the total to the terms of the contract. That’s because all of these contracts are loaded with an initial signing bonus, annual signing bonuses and other bonuses (incentives based on performance, for example). Those all add up to the total contract terms (or more in the case again with performance incentives) – and impact the salary cap.
To see quarterback bonus breakdown, or every player’s (not just QBs) contract terms and more, check out my source for this one at: spotrac.com.
Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.
TEAM |
QB |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
TOT |
Arizona Cardinals |
Kevin Kolb |
1.0 |
9.0 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
UFA* |
5/$63 |
||
Atlanta Falcons |
Matt Ryan |
11.5 |
10.0 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
6/$72 |
Baltimore Ravens |
Joe Flacco |
6.76 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
5/$30 |
Buffalo Bills |
Ryan Fitzpatrick |
2.8 |
4.25 |
4.35 |
7.2 |
8.75 |
9.45 |
UFA |
6/$59 |
Carolina Panthers |
Cam Newton |
1.38 |
2.38 |
3.38 |
UFA |
|
|
|
4/$22 |
Chicago Bears |
Jay Cutler |
7.7 |
8.47 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
5/$50 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Bruce Gradkowski |
1.8 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
2/$3.5 |
Cleveland Browns |
Seneca Wallace |
3.0 |
3.0 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
3/$9 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Tony Romo |
0.83 |
11.5 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
6/$67 |
Denver Broncos |
Tim Tebow |
1.1 |
1.06 |
0.67 |
UFA |
|
|
|
5/$9.8 |
Detroit Lions |
Matthew Stafford |
11.5 |
11.5 |
11.0 |
UFA |
|
|
|
6/$72 |
Green Bay Packers |
Aaron Rodgers |
8.0 |
9.25 |
10.5 |
UFA |
|
|
|
6/$65 |
Houston Texans |
Matt Schaub |
7.15 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
6/$48 |
Indianapolis Colts |
Andrew Luck |
TBD* |
|
|
|
|
|
TBD |
|
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Blaine Gabbert |
0.92 |
1.45 |
2.01 |
UFA |
|
|
|
4/$12 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Matt Cassel |
5.25 |
7.5 |
9.0 |
UFA |
|
|
|
6/$63 |
Miami Dolphins |
Matt Moore |
2.5 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
2/$5 |
Minnesota Vikings |
Christian Ponder |
0.84 |
SB* |
SB |
UFA |
|
|
|
4/$10.2 |
New England Patriots |
Tom Brady |
5.75 |
9.75 |
9.75 |
UFA |
|
|
|
5/$78.5 |
New Orleans Saints |
Drew Brees |
FT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/$14.4 |
New York Giants |
Eli Manning |
1.75 |
13.0 |
15.15 |
17.0 |
UFA |
|
|
7/$106.9 |
New York Jets |
Mark Sanchez |
3.25 |
8.25 |
9.0 |
12.5 |
10.75 |
UFA |
|
5/$58.2 |
Oakland Raiders |
Carson Palmer |
12.5 |
13.0 |
15.0 |
UFA |
|
|
|
4/$43 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Michael Vick |
12.5 |
12.5 |
15.5 |
16.5 |
20.0* |
UFA |
|
5/$80 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Ben Roethlisberger |
0.90 |
11.6 |
11.6 |
12.1 |
UFA |
|
|
6/$102 |
San Diego Chargers |
Philip Rivers |
10.2 |
12.0 |
13.8 |
15.75 |
UFA |
|
|
7/$98.3 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Alex Smith |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
UFA |
Seattle Seahawks |
Tarvaris Jackson |
4.0 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
2/$8 |
St. Louis Rams |
Sam Bradford |
1.21 |
2.01 |
2.81 |
3.61 |
UFA |
|
|
6/$78 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Josh Freeman |
6.59 |
8.43 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
5/$26 |
Tennessee Titans |
Matt Hasselbeck |
5.5 |
5.5 |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
3/$20 |
Washington Redskins |
Rex Grossman |
UFA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
UFA |
* UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent
* TBD = To Be Decided (Andrew Luck is assumed to be drafted first by the Indianapolis Colts)
* SB = Signing Bonus (Christian Ponder has no base salary for these years. His “pay” is his signing bonus, which is $1.47M for the two years.
* The $20M slated for Vick in 2016 is a club option and is not included in the total contract terms above.
The Highest Paid Players in Baseball: Top 25 2012 Salaries
Alex Rodriguez Is the Highest Paid Player in Baseball, Again
Here are the 25 highest paid baseball players for the upcoming season, sorted by their 2012 salaries. Included are the terms of each players’ contracts.
Alex Rodriguez still owns the largest contract in baseball history.
Where’s Albert Pujols and his recently signed 10-year $250 million contract? Well, it’s backloaded. He’s “only” making $12 million this year, but starting in 2014 he’ll make $23M, with an additional million added to that every year through 2021, when his base salary will be an insane $30M. Pujols will be 41 then.
Thanks to my fantastic source, which you must check out, spotrac.com.
Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.
| PLAYER | TEAM | 2012 | CONTRACT | AVG SALARY | THROUGH | |
| 1. | Alex Rodriguez | YANKEES | 29.0 | 10/$275 | 27.5 | 2017 |
| 2. | Johan Santana | METS | 24.0 | 6/$137.5 | 22.92 | 2013* |
| 3. | C.C Sabathia | YANKEES | 23.0 | 8/$186 | 23.25 | 2017 |
| 3. | Joe Mauer | TWINS | 23.0 | 8/$184 | 23.0 | 2018 |
| 3. | Prince Fielder | TIGERS | 23.0 | 9/$214 | 23.78 | 2020 |
| 6. | Mark Teixeira | YANKEES | 22.5 | 8/$180 | 22.5 | 2016 |
| 7. | Cliff Lee | PHILLIES | 21.5 | 5/$120 | 24.0 | 2015* |
| 8. | Miguel Cabrera | TIGERS | 21.0 | 8/$152.3 | 19.04 | 2015 |
| 8. | Adrian Gonzalez | RED SOX | 21.0 | 7/$154 | 22.0 | 2018 |
| 8. | Vernon Wells | ANGELS | 21.0 | 7/$126 | 18.0 | 2014 |
| 11. | Justin Verlander | TIGERS | 20.0 | 5/$80 | 16.0 | 2014 |
| 11. | Ryan Howard | PHILLIES | 20.0 | 5/$125 | 25.0 | 2016* |
| 11. | Roy Halladay | PHILLIES | 20.0 | 3/$60 | 20.0 | 2013* |
| 14. | Carl Crawford | RED SOX | 19.5 | 7/$142 | 20.29 | 2017 |
| 15. | Barry Zito | GIANTS | 19.0 | 7/$126 | 18.0 | 2013* |
| 15. | Felix Hernandez | MARINERS | 19.0 | 5/$78 | 15.6 | 2014 |
| 17. | Carlos Lee | ASTROS | 18.5 | 6/$100 | 16.67 | 2012 |
| 18. | Alfonso Soriano | CUBS | 18.0 | 8/$136 | 17.0 | 2014 |
| 18. | Torii Hunter | ANGELS | 18.0 | 5/$90 | 18.0 | 2012 |
| 18. | Tim Lincecum | GIANTS | 18.0 | 2/$40.5 | 20.35 | 2013 |
| 21. | Matt Holliday | CARDINALS | 17.0 | 7/$120 | 17.14 | 2016* |
| 21. | Jake Peavy | WHITE SOX | 17.0 | 3/$52 | 17.33 | 2012* |
| 21. | Ichiro Suzuki | MARINERS | 17.0 | 5/$90 | 18.0 | 2012 |
| 24. | A.J. Burnett | PIRATES | 16.5 | 5/$82.5 | 16.5 | 2013 |
| 25. | Derek Jeter | YANKEES | 16.0 | 3/$51 | 17.0 | 2013* |
| 25. | Jason Bay | METS | 16.0 | 4/$66 | 16.5 | 2013* |
| 25. | Michael Young | RANGERS | 16.0 | 5/$80 | 16.0 | 2013 |
* The following year is a club option, except in Derek Jeter’s case. He has a player option for an additional year.
Photo: joshspringer.com
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