Booker signs a record two-year extension with the Suns, worth $72.5 million per season.

A Fistful of Dollars. For them, not for mere mortals. Devin Booker surpasses Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and becomes the highest-paid player in NBA history on an annual basis after extending his $145 million contract with Phoenix for two seasons. His $72.5 million average (€61.9 million at current exchange rates) surpasses the $71.25 earned by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recently signed an extension with Oklahoma City. The regular-season and Finals MVP had signed a supermax with the NBA champions worth $285 million. With the extension, Booker now earns $316 million over five years.
Just to give you an idea of how much contracts have exploded over the years, here are some comparisons with the greats of the past. Larry Bird in his final season with the Celtics (1992-93) pocketed $2,300,000, which, adjusted for inflation, would be equivalent to $5,154,083 today. Magic Johnson in 1994-95 with the Lakers earned $14,660,000 (today $31,120,307). Michael Jordan in 1997-98 with the Bulls earned $33,140,000 (today $64,95,712). In the first decade of the new century, the highest-paid player was Kevin Garnett in Minnesota in 2003-04 with $28 million (today $47,887,316). In the following season, from 2010 to 2019, Steph Curry with the Warriors earned $37,457,154 (currently $46,700,853). The Golden State guard was also the first to cross the $50 million annual threshold, earning $51,915,615 in 2023-24.
The Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport