Ordinarily, I don’t follow hockey and know little about it. But I was intrigued last week when I read that Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid signed a two-year contract for $12.5 million per year. Could that be correct? Conner is a three-time MVP and regarded as perhaps the best hockey player in the world.
A mere $12.5 million a year in a sports world of preposterous salary numbers?
It’s a reflection on the NHL’s financial status, but moreover, a statement about the money game played by the NBA.
Did you know that former Arizona basketball player Josh Green makes more money than McDavid? I had to look twice at the numbers on Spotrac, the top website for pro sports salaries. Green, who played one mediocre season at Arizona, averaging 12 points a game in 2019-20, is being paid $13.7 million by the Charlotte Hornets this season. Green has a career NBA scoring average of 6.7 points.
Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green shoots during the first half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks in Charlotte, N.C., March 18, 2025.
It led me to examine the current salaries for 14 ex-Wildcats now on NBA rosters. It’s numbing. Those Wildcats will be paid $162 million this season. Here’s the list:
– Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz: $46.3 million. Hidden on a poor NBA franchise, Markkanen’s career earnings will be $158 million.
– Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers: $33.6 million. That will push his career earnings to $173 million. And Ayton isn’t a star-caliber player. Amazing.
– Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets: $22.8 million. Gordon’s career earnings will grow to $179 million. That will be second on the list of former Arizona NBA players. Andre Iguodala leads at $189 million.
Former basketball player Andre Iguodala, right, talks to reporters before a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks, Feb. 23, 2025, in San Francisco.
– Josh Green, Charlotte Hornets: $13.7 million. Green has already been paid $26.2 million as mostly a sub.
– T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers: $10.2 million. The undrafted point guard has already earned $45.2 million.
– Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers, $9.2 million. Mathurin is headed toward $100 million.
– Zeke Nnaji, Denver Nuggets: $8.2 million. What’s amazing is that Nnaji, who has already earned $21 million, has started just 11 games in five years.
– Dalen Terry, Chicago Bulls: $5.4 million. A career sub, Terry is in the final year of his original $15-million contract.
– Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs: $4.9 million as a rookie.
– Brandon Williams, Dallas Mavericks: $2.2 million. Remember him? He averaged 11.4 for Arizona’s NCAA-scandal 17-15 team of 2018-19.
– Pelle Larsson, Miami Heat: $1.95 million. He was paid $1.2 million as a rookie.
– Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat: $1.95 million. He earned $714,000 last year, alternating between the G League and the Heat.
– Christian Koloko, Los Angeles Lakers: $550,000. Koloko is on a two-way deal with the Lakers and the G-League. He has career earnings of $3.2 million.
– Caleb Love, Portland Trail Blazers: $550,000. Love also is on a two-way deal with the G-League.
For some perspective, here’s a list of the highest-paid ex-UA NBA players. The $100 million club is Iguodala, $189 million; Gilbert Arenas, $163 million; Richard Jefferson, $116 million; Jason Terry, $108 million; Mike Bibby $107 million.
Good thing they didn’t grow up wanting to be hockey players.
