The NBA reveals the players who hoarded the most money in the last 40 years: up to 54% of a team's salary cap!
Shaquille O'Neal leads a ranking that also includes Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
Shaquille O'Neal was not one to make economic concessions when it came time to negotiate his contracts in the NBA. Unlike other legends like Dirk Nowitzki, who occasionally accepted lower salary demands to benefit their teams, the legendary center always sought to secure the maximum possible amount. And, based on his career, he had plenty of sporting arguments to support his case.
A study on the percentage of team payrolls represented by the big stars of the NBA over the last 40 years places O'Neal at the top of the rankings. The former American player tops the chart even when considering his first four seasons, when he was still under his rookie contract, and his last professional season, where he earned the minimum salary.
Specifically, O'Neal represented an average of 29.20% of the salary cap of his teams throughout his career. His greatest economic impact occurred in the 2004-05 season when he played for the Miami Heat, and his contract accounted for 46.53% of the franchise's salary expenditure.
Shaquille O'Neal, the king of million-dollar contracts
Shaq's position in this ranking does not prevent us from recognizing that his performance justified much of the amounts he received. His achievements are among the most remarkable in basketball history: he won four NBA championship rings, was named Finals MVP three times, and won a regular-season MVP award.
In addition, he participated in 15 All-Star editions and was part of 14 All-NBA first teams. His physical dominance, ability to impose himself near the basket, and influence on the championship-winning teams of the Los Angeles Lakers explain why he was one of the most influential players of his generation.
His total earnings as a player amounted to 292,198,327 dollars, a figure that places him among the biggest stars who have generated the most money through their sports contracts. His negotiating ability, combined with his enormous performance on the court, ultimately made him the leading figure in this ranking.
David Robinson and Michael Jordan complete the podium
The second place goes to David Robinson, one of the great legends of the San Antonio Spurs. The center represented on average 27.16% of the salary cap of his teams, peaking in the 1998-99 season when his contract accounted for 33.98% of San Antonio's salary expenditure.
Robinson accumulated 114,448,123 dollars during his professional career. His presence in second place demonstrates how much the big stars could concentrate a significant portion of their franchises' financial resources before the subsequent salary expansion experienced by the competition.
The third place goes to Michael Jordan, whose average weight was 26.25%. The legendary shooting guard of the Chicago Bulls managed to represent 54.03% of his team's salary cap in the 1997-98 season, one of the highest figures in the entire ranking. However, his final position is also influenced by the last two seasons of his contract with the Bulls.
Jordan accumulated 86,760,000 dollars in salaries as an NBA player, an amount that must be contextualized within the evolution of contracts and salary caps of his era.
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James among the great names
The list also includes several leading figures in modern basketball. Kevin Garnett ranks fourth, with an average of 24.83% of his teams' salary caps. His peak came in the 2002-03 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he represented 42.34% of the franchise's salary expenditure.
Kobe Bryant appears in fifth place, averaging 23.87%. The shooting guard of the Los Angeles Lakers reached his highest percentage in the 2013-14 season when his contract constituted 35.76% of the team's salary cap. His career earnings amounted to 328,237,108 dollars.
LeBron James, for his part, occupies sixth place. The forward has averaged 23.44% of his franchises' salary caps, peaking in the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Lakers when he reached 33.25%. His cumulative earnings as a player amount to 583,949,426 dollars, the highest figure among the top ten in this ranking.
The top 10 players who occupied the most salary cap
Patrick Ewing, Kevin Durant, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Karl Malone complete the top ten. Their careers reflect how different generations of stars have concentrated a significant part of their franchises' financial resources.
| Position | Player | Average percentage of salary cap | Maximum percentage | Career earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaquille O'Neal | 29.20% | 46.53% (Miami, 2004-05) | 292,198,327 $ |
| 2 | David Robinson | 27.16% | 33.98% (San Antonio, 1998-99) | 114,448,123 $ |
| 3 | Michael Jordan | 26.25% | 54.03% (Chicago, 1997-98) | 86,760,000 $ |
| 4 | Kevin Garnett | 24.83% | 42.34% (Minnesota, 2002-03) | 343,862,398 $ |
| 5 | Kobe Bryant | 23.87% | 35.76% (Lakers, 2013-14) | 328,237,108 $ |
| 6 | LeBron James | 23.44% | 33.25% (Lakers, 2018-19) | 583,949,426 $ |
| 7 | Patrick Ewing | 22.95% | 43.21% (New York, 1995-96) | 112,693,120 $ |
| 8 | Kevin Durant | 22.59% | 31.29% (Brooklyn, 2019-20) | 511,827,648 $ |
| 9 | Hakeem Olajuwon | 22.54% | 42.72% (Houston, 1998-99) | 102,998,594 $ |
| 10 | Karl Malone | 22.50% | 37.79% (Utah, 2002-03) | 101,723,378 $ |
The conclusion is clear: Shaquille O'Neal was the player who absorbed the highest percentage of the salary cap of his teams on average in this analysis of the last four decades. Although other legends reached higher peaks in specific seasons, the consistency of his high-value contracts allowed him to top a ranking full of Hall of Fame members.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La NBA destapa a los jugadores que más dinero acapararon en los últimos 40 años: ¡hasta el 54% de la masa salarial de un equipo!
