With an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, Michael Jordan is by far the richest former professional athlete in all of sports. However, the Chicago Bulls legend actually never breached $100-million in salaries through his Hall of Fame career. In fact, majority of his career earnings came in his final two seasons with the Bulls, where he made a combined $63.2-milion. His total career earnings are estimated to be somewhere between $90 million to $94 million.
In the history of the NBA, the consensus greatest player of all time actually ranked 131st in career earnings, per Spotrac. That's a long list of 130 players (former or present) who earned more than Jordan did in unmatched NBA career. Surely, inflation and more money coming into the NBA's revenue streams has played a major part in this.
However, this is still pretty mind boggling. Wait until you see some of the names on this list. With that, let's take a gander at 10 not so all-time great players, at least when compared to Michael Jordan, who made more than His Airness.
10. Tristan Thompson (124th)
Tristan Thompson is a nightly double-double threat and has proven that he can be key role player on a championship team. However, it's hard to believe that, at 29 years old, the Cleveland Cavaliers center has already surpassed Jordan in terms of career salaries.
The Canadian big man earned his big payday when the Cavaliers gave him a five-year $82-million extension back in 2015. He certainly earned his money after helping the Cavs win their first NBA title in that same season. However, Thompson still has his limitations on offense with his inability to space the floor and on defense with his lack of rim protection.
Thompson's current deal will expire at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, which will put his career earnings at around $98-million so far. Surely, his energy will earn him a few more millions as he heads into his 30's.
9. Hassan Whiteside (117th)
Like Thompson, Whiteside can also stuff the stat-sheet with double-doubles to go along with a couple of swats. Sure, the Portland Trail Blazers center can erase shots emphatically on defense and is a reliable finisher around the rim. However, Whiteside's game has never really contributed to winning. Pundits of the former Miami Heat big man say that he only puts up empty numbers and is actually a sub-par defensive player.
While it took Michael Jordan 15 years to earn roughly $90-million in NBA salaries, Whiteside only needed one deal to break through $100-million in career earnings. Per Spotrac, the 7-footer will have made $101.7-million by season's end. Whiteside actually only made around $3-million through the first five years of his career, while playing mostly in the development ranks. However, the former 2nd round pick caught a big break with the Heat when he had a solid second half of the season with in 2014-15.
This breakout earned him a hefty a 4-year, $98.4 million deal with Miami. At 30, he will likely earn more when he signs his next contract following the 2019-20 season.
8. Otto Porter Jr. (126th)
Chicago Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. is considered one of the most overpaid players in the NBA. After his rookie scale contract expired, the Washington Wizards extended him to a massive 4-year, $106-million deal. With this contract alone, he already surpassed the GOAT in terms of career earnings. By the end of his current deal, which expires following the 2020-21 season, he will have made $125-million in seven seasons in the NBA.
When healthy, Porter has the potential to be a solid 3-and-D wing. However, after showing a couple of promising seasons with the Wizards, he has struggled to show consistency and growth in his game. This season, Porter has only played in 14 games due to a foot injury.
Nonetheless, at 27, he still has a ton of NBA years left, that is if he stays healthy. Of course, he will only pad on his already massive career salary haul.
7. Ryan Anderson (111th)
Ryan Anderson's time in the NBA is seemingly coming to a close. Nonetheless, the 32-year old has already managed to secure a big enough bag that is enough to set him for the rest of his life.
The 6-foot-10 big man made his money by being a knock down shooter from beyond the arc. Certainly, in the modern NBA, many teams valued his ability to space the floor as a stretch-four. However, that simply wasn't enough to justify the $98-million he made through an 8-year stretch. For what he brought on the offensive end, he mostly gave up on defense and this made him a liability on the floor, especially as he aged and slowed down.
In total, Anderson earned $104.2 million through 11-plus seasons in the NBA. I mean, but Michael Jordan only made… Yeah! That's the point!
6. Mike Miller (123rd)
In his prime, Mike Miller was good enough to give any team 15 points and a couple of three-pointers a night. At the tail end of his career, he proved to be a solid role player on a championship who could knock down threes, as he did with the Miami Heat. He even did so with just one shoe.
After winning the 2000-01 Rookie of the Year, Miller was mostly a role player that through his career. He earned his big payday when the Memphis Grizzlies signed him to a 6-year, $47-million in the summer of 2004. In total, Miller hauled in around $98.5 million through his 17-year career.
Not too shabby for someone who netted career averages of 10.6 points and 4.2 rebounds.
5. Marvin Williams (76th)
Marvin Williams is currently on the Milwaukee Bucks as a veteran locker room guy and a floor spacer. For the most of his career, he has been nothing more than a role player.
The Atlanta Hawks selected Williams with the no. 2 pick in the 2005 NBA draft ahead of All-Star point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams. With career averages of 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds, it's safe to say he never lived up to the standard that is expected from a second overall pick.
Nonetheless, Williams made around $122.7-million through his career. He made majority of his money when he signed a 4-year, $54.5 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets in the summer of 2016, where nearly everyone got paid.
4. Evan Turner (127th)
By all accounts, much like Marvin Williams, Evan Turner has failed to live up to the billing as the no. 2 overall pick in his class.
Still, that did not hinder him from earning a massive haul through his career. For his career, Turner has earned $97.2 million, most of which he received from the 4-year, $70-million deal he signed in the big bucks summer of 2016.
Turner has been a role player for most of his career. Nowadays, teams will still value his steady veteran leadership in the locker room. He won't earn as much as the $70-million though. Nonetheless, he's probably happy that he luckily landed in that prized free agency class of 2016.
3. Nene (67th)
Nene was a reliable big man for the Denver Nuggets when he started out his career. However, an ACL injury prior at the start of the 2005-06 season took away his explosiveness. Despite the serious injury, Denver still re-upped him to a 6-year, $60-million extension.
When his initial extension expired, the Nuggets, which valued his presence as a locker room leader, signed him to another massive deal in 2011, this time at 5-years, $67 million. He continued to struggle with injuries late in his career and served mostly a veteran presence in the locker.
At 37, Nene's NBA days are likely done. However, with a $132-million bank in NBA career earnings, the Brazilian center can walk away from the game in good spirits.
2. Erick Dampier (98th)
Erick Dampier, like everyone on this list, was nothing more than a role player who turned in career averages of 7.4 points and 7.1 rebounds a night. Dampier had his best season when he averaged 12.3 point and 12.0 rebounds in the 2003-04 season, which was his contract year.
His career year in 2003-04 earned him a deal of over $60-million through six years with the Dallas Mavericks. Despite being a role player for his entire career, Dampier still managed to nab $109.5-million for his career, mostly with his deal from the Mavs.
It's baffling to see that Dampier made nearly $15-million more than Michael Jordan ever did in NBA salaries.
1. Chandler Parsons (72nd)
In the summer of 2016, Chandler Parsons was a highly sought-after free agent. Despite a slow down in his play in his two-year stint with Dallas, the Memphis Grizzlies still signed him to a 4-year, $94-million contract.
For $94-million, the Grizzlies only got 95 games from Parsons, mainly due to recurring knee injuries. Grizzlies fans despise Parsons for swindling their organization for that huge amount of money. His hefty deal expires by the end of this season, and it's unlikely he will get another shot in the NBA.
Nonetheless, Parsons, a former 38th overall pick, must be happy with how his NBA bank account turned out.
These 10 players may have undeservedly made more money than Michael Jordan in their careers. But as mentioned, His Airness is already a billionaire. He is also the richest former professional athlete in all of sports and no one, other than LeBron James, comes close. It's safe to say MJ isn't losing any sleep over this.
Follow Us
Subscribe