San Antonio Spurs: Remembering David Robinson’s one-of-a-kind contract stipulations

Before ever donning the silver-and-black, David Robinson signed a never before-seen contract in basketball history with the San Antonio Spurs. Today, we revisit the rare deal.

Suppose you were making a Mount Rushmore composed of the most unique contract clauses in NBA history (believe me, this is totally what people do at home). What’s the criteria? When do you know you’ve just put ink to one of the most unique deals in sports history, like the one between the San Antonio Spurs and David Robinson?

Here’s one for sure: when you’ve signed a contract, and then-NBA commissioner David Stern remarks, “Someone must have been asleep the day this went through.” 

Such was the case for San Antonio Spurs legend and 2009 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee David Robinson during the infancy stages of his career as an up-and-coming center.

Let’s iron out the specifics: before carving his mark in the NBA, Robinson first had to fulfill his obligations in the Navy. Even though Robinson’s height prevented him from actually participating in surface warfare and submarine duties — two integral parts of being a Navy SEAL — his petition was denied, which meant that at any time, Robinson could simply re-apply for the NBA Draft later.

Robinson was always known for his chiseled frame and muscular build. But it’s safe to say, putting the franchise on the broad shoulders of any other pick in the 1987 NBA Draft — which featured just four Hall of Famers and seven All-Stars in 161 selections — would have been dangerous. With the groundwork set, here was the now-embargoed contract stipulation that David Robinson and San Antonio Spurs executive Bob Bass agreed upon.

Whoever the No. 1 and No. 2 highest-paid players in the NBA were, Robinson’s clause ensured that his contract would average out right in between them.

If that’s confusing, let’s throw that into 2019-20 terms. The deepest pockets in today’s Association belong to Stephen Curry ($40.2 million) and Chris Paul ($38.5 million). Under the ramifications, David Robinson would fit comfortably in the middle as the No. 2 richest player in the league.

This idea from Bass was meant to cajole Robinson into staying in contention in the 1987 NBA Draft. Robinson held cards unlike few players ever — but so did the San Antonio Spurs. As former Sports Illustrated columnist Leigh Montville brought out in his “Trials of David” article in 1996, Robinson often spent time in fear of the Spurs ripping that contract up and sending him walking.

"“What happened was that every year a couple of new megadeals would be struck by other players. The biggest money would be backloaded in each contract, so the average was more than the player was making the first season.Robinson had to be paid more than the average, so each year his old contract would be ripped up, and he would be paid a new salary, among the highest in the league. “David’s big worry during all this, believe it or not, was that the Spurs would invoke their option and he would become a free agent,” Fentress says. “He didn’t want to leave San Antonio. He and his wife had really gotten to like the place.”"

Don’t mistake Bass for a fool for agreeing to this clause; he’s a two-time Executive of the Year, and he’s most responsible for the career-altering position change — moving George Gervin from small forward to shooting guard — that led to four scoring titles.

Maybe he did sign Robinson to what was then the most lucrative deal in pro sports, or give Robinson a controversial $3 million deal before he could play a game (which was put in a trust fund). Seeing Robinson in the 1988 Olympics, he’d seen enough.

Given the rules, it wasn’t as if it was some clandestine ruling. Knowing the success we’ve come to see, wouldn’t you have risked the same?

It’s unclear as to if this was the sine qua non that rocked the boat for Robinson to accept. But can you look me in the eye (or in this case, the computer screen) and say you’d decline that?

Anyways, sometimes, as other players were in a state of contractual flux, Robinson enjoyed time as the No. 1 highest-paid player. During the 1992-93 season, for example, the 10-time All-Star paced the entire league, despite never making a Western Conference Finals, or finishing as a Most Valuable Player or runner-up (at the time).

As Michael Jordan (the No. 2 richest in 1992-93) was working on a championship three-peat, Robinson nearly did the same as the league’s breadwinner.

Per HoopsHype, Robinson held the top spot in 1992-93, 1993-94, and was No. 2 in 1994-95. (It’s mostly unrelated to Robinson, but if you ever want to have fun, take a look at the biggest contracts in the 1990s. Ranking behind Robinson and Jordan was John “Hot Rod” Williams, not to be confused with the great John Williams, who was once suspended for being overweight. And then No. 4? Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Reggie Miller. Vlade Divac. I can’t make this up.)

Around the league, front office executives pointed to Robinson’s deal as one of the aspects that led to a cap spike. At the time, 20 of the league’s 27 teams were over the league’s $14 million salary cap, particularly because of the freedom organizations had to resign players. Deseret gave a bit of insight on how some higher-ups saw the clause, which prompted a chance in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Robinson was the highest-paid player in the NBA, and one of just 173 players to be making more than $1 million. Robinson’s agent, Lee Fentress, called the deal creative. And Gary Bettman, who served as a former NBA senior vice president and current NHL commissioner, weighed in as well, on how a deal like that could never materialize again.

"“I don’t think the league will ever approve of another contract like this. We were fortunate.”– Lee Fentress “It wouldn’t be approved again. It’s inconsistent with fixed compensation under the cap.”– Gary Bettman"

By all accounts, the 1994-95 Most Valuable Player is viewed as a class act; a man of God; a role model for the next generations. But even if he weren’t, could we have blamed him? Throughout his prime with the San Antonio Spurs, he played with exactly one All-Star (Sean Elliott) and mostly-fungible role players before the arrival of Tim Duncan resuscitated his championship aspirations after a crippling back injury.

Before Duncan, David Robinson had a frontcourt mate who openly spoke of playing basketball in the nude, and to this day, he’s vilified because of a stat sheet that shows that he was victimized by Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1995 Western Conference Finals.

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Today, Robinson’s crazy averaging of contract clause sits in the annals of basketball history, spoken of very little. If nothing else, it tells a story of hilarity, especially in comparison today, and how far we’ve come. For example: in 1992-93, only 44 percent of the players (173 of 390, per Basketball Reference) earned more than $1 million dollars that year.

Or how about the fact that Robinson sat atop the NBA’s food chain at $5.72 million? In today’s league, 185 players make more than that.

All told, Robinson’s contract probably sits somewhere on that Mount Rushmore. It lacks the comedy of the Baron Davis clause (an extra $1 million if he plays in 70 games and just wins 30 of them), or the infamous “role player wins the MVP” clauses (see Nick Collison and Adonal Foyle).

It probably also lacks the worldwide attention of Michael Jordan’s “love of the game contract,” that allowed him to play competitive pick-up games at any location or any time he so pleased, or Shelly Sterling’s three champion ring guarantee if the Clippers won one championship.

Within those, we see Robinson’s one-of-a-kind clause. At 7’1, much of what Robinson has done gets overlooked and underrated. And the caveats of his contracts with the San Antonio Spurs are no different.