By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Seventy. A good, round number. That’s how many million dollars the salary cap was two years ago (2015-16). And then… The league’s new TV deal with ESPN and Turner Sports, which came into force in 2016 and is estimated at $2.660.000.000 annually, keeps adding to the cap. At $94.143.000 the following season, $99.093.000 last season and $101.869.000 for the coming season.
The players’ contracts could only follow accordingly.
Eurohoops presents the Top 10 of the new season.
#10 JAMES HARDEN (Houston Rockets)
2018-19 contract: $30.421.854
Career stats: 23 points | 5.1 rebounds | 6.1 assists | 1.5 steals | 0.5 blocks | 3.5 turnovers | 34 minutes
The 29-year-old point guard has been receiving $30.421.854 since the last year of the extension he had signed in the summer of 2016, while at the end of the year, his next contract and the most expensive one in the history of the NBA, which he signed in the summer of 2017 ($169.344.000 until 2023), will come into force. As long as the money’s pouring into his bank account, he will continue to try to reach the end of the line with the Rockets. Last season, the job was only half done (3-4 by the Warriors in the Western Conference finals), even though he was able to alleviate his disappointment by being chosen as the MVP of the year.