Devin Booker is now officially part of a very exclusive club: athletes earning sums of money that make the rest of us need a moment to process. The 28-year-old guard`s recent contract extension with the Phoenix Suns isn`t just another big payday; it`s a record-setter, reportedly valued at $145 million over two years. This works out to a staggering $72.5 million average annual salary, a figure that momentarily places him at the very pinnacle of the NBA`s financial landscape, surpassing the recent record set by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
But how does Booker`s eye-watering deal truly stack up? To grasp the sheer scale of modern sports economics, we need to look beyond the basketball court and compare it to the most lucrative contracts across the major professional leagues: the NFL, MLB, and NHL. What becomes clear is that while the numbers are universally massive, the structure and scale vary significantly from sport to sport.
The NBA`s Escalating Arms Race
The NBA market has seen an almost comical escalation in recent years, with players pushing the boundaries of contract values. Booker`s $72.5 million AAV is the latest peak in this climb. It nudges out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who held the AAV title just last week with his $71.25 million average. Before them, Jayson Tatum became the first player slated to earn $70 million in a single season as part of his $314 million deal, and Jaylen Brown signed a contract exceeding $300 million. Nikola Jokic`s $272 million deal, once the largest, now seems relatively quaint in this rapidly inflating market. Even Giannis Antetokounmpo`s $228.2 million contract from 2021, which felt astronomical and delivered a championship, now appears further down the list. The movement of players like Bradley Beal, traded shortly after signing a max deal, highlights that even these colossal figures don`t always guarantee stability.
NFL: The Reign of Guaranteed Money
Switching gears to the gridiron, the NFL operates on a different financial principle, heavily emphasizing guaranteed money over the total contract value. While headline numbers can reach hundreds of millions, the real measure of security for a player is the practical guaranteed sum. Josh Allen currently leads this metric with a formidable $250 million guaranteed out of a total $330 million contract. Following him are quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, whose deal guarantees over 96% of its value, and Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence, who recently secured guaranteed sums north of $150 million and $200 million respectively. Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson also feature prominently among the highest guaranteed payouts. Deshaun Watson`s $230 million deal is unique for being fully guaranteed, though its discussion is inseparable from the circumstances surrounding its signing. These figures underscore the indispensable, and expensive, nature of top-tier quarterback talent in the NFL.
MLB: The Long Haul and Record Totals
Baseball contracts are often characterized by their sheer length and staggering total values, frequently dwarfing the annual averages seen in other sports, even if the AAV might not always reach the absolute peak. Juan Soto`s colossal 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets recently set a new benchmark, not just for MLB, but for professional sports history in terms of total value and duration. This eclipses even Shohei Ohtani`s landmark 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, a contract that captured global attention. Legends like Mike Trout previously held the record with his 12-year, $426.5 million deal. Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, and Francisco Lindor are also part of the $300 million club, locking in generational wealth over a decade or more. Fernando Tatis Jr.`s lengthy 14-year contract, while ambitious, also serves as a reminder that these long-term commitments carry inherent risks for both player and team, with performance-altering injuries or other issues sometimes arising.
The NHL`s Solid, If Comparatively Modest, Millions
Finally, venturing onto the ice, the National Hockey League features substantial contracts, though on a scale that appears somewhat `modest` when placed alongside the peak deals in the other major leagues. Leon Draisaitl`s recent 8-year, $112 million extension with the Oilers is representative of the top tier. Shea Weber`s 14-year, $110 million deal is notable primarily for its length and the unfortunate reality of his career effectively ending due to injury while still under contract. Sidney Crosby`s long-standing 12-year, $104.4 million deal signed back in 2013 highlights the remarkable longevity of his elite career. Connor McDavid`s $100 million deal from 2018, while significant at the time and for an undisputed superstar, now illustrates how contract values in other sports have accelerated even faster.
A World of Unprecedented Wealth
Devin Booker`s NBA-record average salary is a headline grabber, but it`s just one data point in a much larger, ever-expanding universe of sports wealth. Whether it`s the NBA`s pursuit of the highest AAV, the NFL`s focus on guaranteed security, or MLB`s penchant for record-breaking total values and contract lengths, the trend is undeniable: elite athletic talent commands unprecedented financial compensation. These contracts, once signed, become not just personal fortunes, but markers in the ongoing economic evolution of professional sports, where today`s record is merely tomorrow`s baseline. It offers a fascinating, if sometimes bewildering, glimpse into the economics of being among the absolute best at a game played for global audiences and billion-dollar industries.