Stephen Curry just agreed to the most expensive contract in NBA history. According to LeBron James, however, Curry is worth double that.
Responding to a tweet from San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ann Killion that pointed out the Warriors are now worth $2.6 billion after being purchased for $450 million in 2010, James implied that there shouldn’t be a salary cap, and that Curry should be signing a five-year, $400 million contract this summer.
So tell me again why there’s a cap on how much a player should get?? Don’t answer that. Steph should be getting 400M this summer 5yrs. #JMTs https://t.co/jMYfI0umWK
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 1, 2017
At the time of owner Joe Lacob’s purchase in 2010, Curry was the only real asset on the Warriors, and has helped lead them to two NBA titles, while also winning two MVPs, since that time. On Saturday morning, Curry reportedly agreed to a five-year, $201 million ‘supermax’ deal, the largest such contract in NBA history. Under currently league rules, the most a player can earn is 30 percent of the team’s salary cap, unless that player is a 10-year veteran, in which case that number can be bumped up to 35 percent.
Before agreeing to his new deal, Curry’s contract was considered the biggest bargain in the NBA, earning an average of $11 million per year over the previous four seasons. That contract was signed when Curry’s career was in doubt due to chronic ankle injuries.
Under his current max contract, James will earn $35.6 million next season, and will hit the open market as a free agent next year.