Overpaid, underpaid: 10 good NBA players on bad contracts
By Amaar Burton
Some very talented NBA players are either making too much money for their team’s liking, or not enough money for their own liking.
Unpopular opinion: There is no such thing as an “overpaid” NBA player.
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Professional basketball is a billion-dollar entertainment industry.
When you take a look at the money being made by NBA team owners and by the league itself and consider the countless individuals and organizations profiting from the sport on every level, then you’ll realize that none of the players are being paid too much.
An NBA player’s value goes beyond wins and losses, beyond points and rebounds.
That said, there is such a thing as a bad NBA contract. Some contracts are bad for the team that’s paying the salary, and some are bad for the player who is getting paid.
Teams often wind up regretting contracts that eat up a percentage of their salary-cap space that doesn’t align with the player’s production and marquee value.
Players wind up regretting contracts that put them in a lower tax bracket than certain peers whom they are better than or equal to on the court. That is why short-term contracts are generally a win-win for both sides.
Here are 10 good players whose contracts fit one of those two definitions of “bad.”