Joe Ingles' $52 million deal tops Australians in NBA annual earnings
Boomers swingman Joe Ingles chose to stay home, and closed in on a $52 million, 4-year deal with the Utah Jazz earlier today.
The contract has yet to be officially signed, but it could make Ingles the highest annually paid Australian basketball player in NBA history.
For comparison purposes, six AFL player were paid more than $1 million last season, with the average salary being $309,208.
Among four Australians playing in the NFL (Brad Wing, Lachlan Edwards, Adam Gotsis, Jordan Berry), Brad Wing is the only one whose base salary is set to be more than $1 million a year.
Here are some of our other Aussies in the NBA, on the historical salary ranking:
1. Patty Mills
Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Patty Mills, like Ingles, stayed with his home. He agreed to an extension with his home team yesterday, for $50 million over 4 years. That's approximately $12.5 million a year.
2. Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut was taken at #1 by Milwaukee in 20015: Photo credit: Keith Allison via photopin cc
According to ESPN, Andrew Bogut had previously signed a $60 million, 5-year extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008, which made for $12 million per year.
3. Matthew Dellavedova
Oct 30, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) gives five to forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 98-83. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dellavedova left the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason, and joined the Milwaukee Bucks for a $38 million, 4-year contract. It's nowhere near Patty or Ingles' deals, but it still gives Delly $9.5 million a year.
Other mentions
Aron Baynes
Baynes signed a 3-year, $20 million deal with the Detroit Pistons in 2015. That works out to approximately $6.7 million a year.
Luc Longley
Details on Luc Longley's salaries were unavailable, but according to basketball-reference, his final seasons on the New York Knicks' salary books earned him anything from $5.75 million, to $6.9 million a season.
Ben Simmons
After being picked first in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons got himself a rookie contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, and started the 2016/17 season with earnings between $3.9 million to $5.9 million. According to HoopsHype, he is set to make $6.1 million this coming season.
