htown11 Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 NBA owners are bracing for a battle with players over their collective bargaining agreement, which expires after this season and a lockout is a strong possibility. Owners lament about losses that reached $380 million last year according to the NBA and want to cut salaries by $800 million or 35%. Yet it is the owners who are guilty of handing out dozens of rich contracts to players where the production does not match the pay. The NBA's best players are not its highest-paid. Each year there are 10 players selected to the All-NBA first and second teams. Out of those 10 players chosen last year, Kobe Bryant is the only player that is also among the game's 10 highest-paid this season. Take the second highest-paid player in the game: Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis. Lewis signed a $118 million, six-year deal in 2007 that pays him $20.5 million this season. Lewis scored 14 points a game last year and averaged 4.5 rebounds. ESPN's John Hollinger devised a player efficiency rating, which had Lewis ranked 48th out of 71 power forwards last season. Lewis has no right being in the league's financial elite. He deserves closer to the NBA average salary of $5 million which would mean a 75% pay cut. LeBron James might not be among the NBA's top-paid on the court, but James and Bryant are in a class by themselves when you factor in endorsement incomes. James will earn more than $40 million in salary and endorsements thanks to his deals with Coca-Cola ( KO - news - people ), McDonald's ( MCD - news - people ), Nike ( NKE - news - people ), State Farm and Upper Deck. Bryant's total take should hit $50 million when you factor in endorsements. No other NBA player will earn more than $30 million from salary and sponsors. No. 1 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers $24.8 million No. 2 Rashard Lewis Orlando Magic $20.5 million No. 3 Kevin Garnett Boston Celtics $18.8 million No. 4 Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs $18.7 millionNo. 5 Michael Redd Milwaukee Bucks $18.3 million No. 6 (tie) Pau Gasol Los Angeles Lakers $17.8 million No. 6 (tie) Andrei Kirilenko Utah Jazz $17.8 million No. 8 Gilbert Arenas Washington Wizards $17.7 million No. 9 Yao Ming Houston Rockets $17.7 million No. 10 Zach Randolph Memphis Grizzlies $17.3 million Lol some players seriously overpaid, some way to injury prone and others just dumb. http://www.forbes.com/2010/11/04/nba-best-paid-players-business-sportsmoney-nba-top-paid-players_slide_11.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawks Fly High Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 SMH @ Rashard Lewis, Micheal Redd, and Andrei Kirilenko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JYD Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 SMH @ Rashard Lewis, Micheal Redd, and Andrei Kirilenkoand Zach Randolph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawks Fly High Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 and Zach Randolph. Haha true, but atleast he can give a solid 20 and 10 when hes healthy. The other 3, ehh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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