Greg Hansen's 10 wealthiest Tucsonans, Arizona Wildcats in the pros
- Updated
The quickest path to riches for former Arizona Wildcats in pro sports is the NBA.
Editorβs note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Todayβs list: The top 10 wealthiest athletes from Tucson and the UA:
Jim Furyk has won 17 PGA Tour events, including the U.S. Open and a $10-million check for winning the 2010 FedEx Cup. But Furyk isnβt even close to the highest-paid athlete from Tucson and the UA.
His official PGA Tour earnings are $68 million. That ranks a distant No. 8 among Tucsonβs pro athletes.
Annika Sorenstam was eight times the LPGA player of the year, winner of 10 majors and 72 LGPA events. She was paid $22.6 million by the LPGA, which means the former UA All-American made less in pure tour earnings than bench-riding NBA center Jordan Hill ($28.2 million) since he left Arizona.
The quickest path to riches in pro sports is the NBA.
Put it this way, former Canyon del Oro second baseman Ian Kinsler is a four-time All-Star who has been paid $92.1 million for Detroit and Texas β and yet he doesnβt approach the career earnings of six former Arizona basketball players.
J.J. Hardy, a Sabino High grad, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, has been paid $78.3 million. He is owed another $14 million by the Baltimore Orioles next year.
But he canβt touch Andre Iguodala, who was a one-year starter at Arizona, who didnβt average more than 12.9 points a game as a Wildcat.
Iguodala, the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, has been paid $121.3 million and is a free agent for 2017-18. If he is successful in signing a final contract, maybe three-years for $30 million, Iguodala will merely be the second-highest paid UA/Tucson athlete in history.
What about New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, you say? Gronkβs official earnings, listed as with all others on this list by sports-reference,com, is $30.5 million. And heβs the acknowledged best in the game at his position.
Momma, if youβre going to let your babies grow up to be ballplayers, make it the NBA.
Hereβs the list of Tucson/UAβs 10-highest paid athletes:Β
You never saw Arenas deep in the NBA playoffs, but he was deep in the pockets of the Washington Wizards, who paid him as much as $20.3 million for the 2012-13 season.Β
After playing his first four NBA seasons for the awful Philadelphia 76ers, earning $9.1 million overall, Iguodala hit the jackpot, never playing for less than $11 million the last nine years.Β
Jefferson has bounced around to seven teams, but heβs still owed $5.1 million by Cleveland over the next two years.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
By the end of his career, 2011-12, Bibby averaged just 2.8 points for the New York Knicks, but was still paid $1.35 million.Β
Itβs conceivable that Terry will return, as a free agent, for one more year at the age of 40.Β
If Stoudamire entered the NBA now, he might double his earnings of 1996-2008.Β
The Detroit Tigers owe Kinsler $12 million for the 2018 season, which will push him past Stoudamire, Terry and Bibby.Β
The Orioles slick-fielding shortstop is on contract for another $14 million next year.Β
Itβs likely Furyk has made at least $30 million in endorsements and outside income in his remarkable golf career.Β
The Cleveland Cavaliers owe the seldom-used Frye another $7.4 million next season.Β
Sean Elliottβs NBA career, from 1989-2000, paid him $42.4 million. Much like the other older players on this list, someone of comparable skills leaving college now could expect to earn up to $200 million in career earnings.Β
Editorβs note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Todayβs list: The top 10 wealthiest athletes from Tucson and the UA:
Jim Furyk has won 17 PGA Tour events, including the U.S. Open and a $10-million check for winning the 2010 FedEx Cup. But Furyk isnβt even close to the highest-paid athlete from Tucson and the UA.
His official PGA Tour earnings are $68 million. That ranks a distant No. 8 among Tucsonβs pro athletes.
Annika Sorenstam was eight times the LPGA player of the year, winner of 10 majors and 72 LGPA events. She was paid $22.6 million by the LPGA, which means the former UA All-American made less in pure tour earnings than bench-riding NBA center Jordan Hill ($28.2 million) since he left Arizona.
The quickest path to riches in pro sports is the NBA.
Put it this way, former Canyon del Oro second baseman Ian Kinsler is a four-time All-Star who has been paid $92.1 million for Detroit and Texas β and yet he doesnβt approach the career earnings of six former Arizona basketball players.
J.J. Hardy, a Sabino High grad, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, has been paid $78.3 million. He is owed another $14 million by the Baltimore Orioles next year.
But he canβt touch Andre Iguodala, who was a one-year starter at Arizona, who didnβt average more than 12.9 points a game as a Wildcat.
Iguodala, the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, has been paid $121.3 million and is a free agent for 2017-18. If he is successful in signing a final contract, maybe three-years for $30 million, Iguodala will merely be the second-highest paid UA/Tucson athlete in history.
What about New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, you say? Gronkβs official earnings, listed as with all others on this list by sports-reference,com, is $30.5 million. And heβs the acknowledged best in the game at his position.
Momma, if youβre going to let your babies grow up to be ballplayers, make it the NBA.
Hereβs the list of Tucson/UAβs 10-highest paid athletes:Β
You never saw Arenas deep in the NBA playoffs, but he was deep in the pockets of the Washington Wizards, who paid him as much as $20.3 million for the 2012-13 season.Β
After playing his first four NBA seasons for the awful Philadelphia 76ers, earning $9.1 million overall, Iguodala hit the jackpot, never playing for less than $11 million the last nine years.Β
Jefferson has bounced around to seven teams, but heβs still owed $5.1 million by Cleveland over the next two years.Β
By the end of his career, 2011-12, Bibby averaged just 2.8 points for the New York Knicks, but was still paid $1.35 million.Β
Itβs conceivable that Terry will return, as a free agent, for one more year at the age of 40.Β
If Stoudamire entered the NBA now, he might double his earnings of 1996-2008.Β
The Detroit Tigers owe Kinsler $12 million for the 2018 season, which will push him past Stoudamire, Terry and Bibby.Β
The Orioles slick-fielding shortstop is on contract for another $14 million next year.Β
Itβs likely Furyk has made at least $30 million in endorsements and outside income in his remarkable golf career.Β
The Cleveland Cavaliers owe the seldom-used Frye another $7.4 million next season.Β
Sean Elliottβs NBA career, from 1989-2000, paid him $42.4 million. Much like the other older players on this list, someone of comparable skills leaving college now could expect to earn up to $200 million in career earnings.Β
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