John Wall: “I’m getting paid the same as Reggie Jackson”

Two years ago, John Wall signed a five-year, $80 million extension with the Wizards. It was the max he could sign for, and as the Wizards’ franchise player and one of the league’s best point guards, he was absolutely deserving of that deal. Since then, though, the league’s new TV deal and the influx of money have led to a lot more contracts that size. Wall’s a little annoyed at what now looks like a deal that’s below market value.

From CSNWashington.com’s J. Michael:

“People talk about me getting $80 million, now you got people getting $85 million that haven’t made the All-Star (Game) or anything like that,” Wall said Tuesday while watching his summer league team compete vs. the Dallas Mavericks at Thomas & Mack Center. “I guess they came in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in and they’re good now. Reggie Jackson gets five years, $80 million. I’m getting the same as Reggie Jackson.”

Wall has a point, and this has long been a gripe that the NBA’s top players have had with the concept of the maximum salary. The league’s superstars are artificially capped in the amount of money they can earn, while lesser players’ values get inflated because of the market. Surely this will be a topic of discussion in the CBA negotiations in 2017.