Next season, Kobe Bryant will be the highest paid player in the NBA, making $25,244,000. Followed by Rashard Lewis at $22,152,000 (I know, I muttered to myself when I was reminded of that, too), Tim Duncan at $21,300,000, Kevin Garnett at $21,200,000 and Gilbert Arenas at $19,260,300.
If you want salary information for any player (one season or career) or for any team this year or several years out it is just a couple mouse clicks away. Complete with options for team and players, buyouts and more.
Figuring out what the NBA owners make off a team, that is a murkier issue. While nobody — not even the players union — suggests the league made money the last few years, the finances of teams are complex and don’t often include things like how much a team is worth and how that has grown in recent years.
Figuring out what David Stern makes? Impossible.
Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo says that is a very touchy subject around the league and that nobody really knows.
Wojnarowski, like some agents, wonders why the union does not come out swinging at Stern — the owners are a largely faceless group, but Stern is a front and center target. With him telling the owners they cannot speak publically, Stern becomes the lone voice for that side of the argument. If you are going to take a swing, he is the punching bag.
But Stern is also a likeable, very good public speaker, someone fans respect. While his rants behind closed doors are the thing of legend, on camera his is very calm, very smooth. Landing a good punch on him will not be easy. And he would punch back.
Just another thing to watch for, another question to ask. Another thing that is part of the tactics but not part of the solution to the lockout.
