Is Cameron Johnson worth one-tenth of Chris Paul?
The Phoenix Suns released the salaries of their top players, making me wonder whether the 36-year-old Paul is really 10 times better than Carolina’s Cameron Johnson.
Paul, the 16-year veteran and former Wake Forest All-American, makes more than $41 million this season and, if he accepts the player option on the table, will make $44 million next year. Why do veteran salaries keep going up as a player’s true value diminishes?
Paul is the tenth highest-paid player in NBA history with a total career earnings of $222.5 million dollars. Off court, he makes about another $10 million a year endorsing Panini, Nike, Air Jordan and of course State Farm, among other products.
All that is borderline obscene, and if the NBA could better control salaries, ticket prices would not preclude 80 percent of the fan base from attending games. In the pinch of the NBA Finals, turnover-prone Paul hasn’t been worth a fraction of that salary.
And, to think, the Suns are ranked 21st in payroll at almost $129 million dollars. Golden State is first with $171 million, followed by the Brooklyn Nets at $169 million and the 76ers at about $148 million.
Devin Booker is the second highest-paid Suns player with a salary of $29.5 million in the early stages having signed the richest contract in franchise history, which by the 2024 season will peak at $36 million, plus an additional $6 million in sponsorships, placing the 24-year-old ex-Kentucky star’s net worth at $100 million.
Cam Johnson is a valuable role player for the Suns coming off the bench to play the most minutes of all reserves and this season making $4.2 million, but ranking 228th on the NBA payroll list. Next season, Johnson’s salary will bump slightly to $4.4 million, and he will have to decide whether to try free agency and hope for a bigger contract for a team that needs him to play more and score more.
I am all for athletes making millions, led by LeBron James whose net worth is reported at a half-billion dollars. But what does that do to the everyday fan wanting to see these guys in the flesh? Thank goodness for high-def TV, because at this rate the majority of the world will never get to watch them up close and personal.
(featured image via AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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