Welcome to the Unbelievable World of NBA Minimums!
In the NBA, contracts come in all flavors! You’ve got your super maximums for the crème de la crème, veteran contracts for the wise sages of the hardcourt, and rookie contracts that often feel like a gamble on a 2nd division football player. But today, ladies and gentlemen, we’re diving into the delightful world of minimum contracts! And let’s be honest, “minimum” in the sports world is like ordering a diet coke at a burger joint—you’re really just saving room for dessert!
Now, why would a franchise go for these minimum contracts? Well, maybe they’re playing it safe with an undrafted rookie or they’re just whispering sweet nothings to a washed-up superstar looking for one last dance—like Michael Jordan in a Wizard’s uniform. Yep, that happened! They thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Spoiler: it was worse than his baseball career.
The 20 Biggest Bargains in NBA History:
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Michael Jordan
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2001-02 and 2002-03
- Statistics: 21.2 ppp, 5.9 rpp, 4.4 app, 43.0 %TC
Ah, the GOAT himself, strutting by the Wizards—these were the years that made us wonder if he’d been enchanted by a particularly potent “Magic Johnson” potion.
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Monta Ellis
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2006-07 and 2007-08
- Statistics: 18.1 ppp, 4.1 rpp, 4.0 app, 50.3 %TC
Monta Ellis—proving that a guy can still score big while flying under the radar. If only his contract negotiations had included a “show me the money!” clause.
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Isaiah Thomas
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 15.0 ppp, 2.4 rpp, 4.6 app, 42.1 %TC
Little guy, big heart! Isaiah, proving you don’t need to be 7 feet tall to dunk on the naysayers…or in his case, dunk on the paycheck.
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Nikola Jokic
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18
- Statistics: 18.5 ppp, 10.7 rpp, 6.1 app, 49.9 %TC
Jokic came in as a minimum, and now he’s a three-time MVP! Imagine looking at a rubber band and calling it a potential bungee cord!
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Dwyane Wade
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 13.3 ppp, 3.9 rpp, 3.8 app, 43.2 %TC
Wade gifted us with some memorable moments for not much cash! Kind of like when you find a five-dollar bill in your winter coat.
In the NBA, various contract types exist, including super maximums, veteran contracts, two-way agreements, rookie deals, and more. Today, however, we will spotlight the lesser-discussed minimum contracts. Players might find themselves in minimum salary situations for various reasons: they could be early in their careers, nearing the end, or they have yet to tap into their full potential, leading franchises to opt for a safer financial strategy with lower salaries.
Embedded in this exploration, you will encounter basketball icons such as Michael Jordan during his later seasons with the Washington Wizards, alongside other renowned figures like Dwyane Wade, Draymond Green, and Nikola Jokic, the remarkable three-time MVP who remains a strong contender to claim the coveted award again this year.
The 20 biggest bargains in NBA history:
-
Michael Jordan
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2001-02 and 2002-03
- Statistics: 21.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, 43.0% field goal percentage
-
Monta Ellis
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2006-07 and 2007-08
- Statistics: 18.1 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, 50.3% field goal percentage
-
Isaiah Thomas
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 15.0 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 42.1% field goal percentage
-
Nikola Jokic
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18
- Statistics: 18.5 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game, 49.9% field goal percentage
-
Carlos Boozer
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2002-03 and 2003-04
- Statistics: 12.6 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 52.9% field goal percentage
-
Gilbert Arenas
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2001-02 and 2002-03
- Statistics: 15.6 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 5.3 assists per game, 44.2% field goal percentage
-
Hassan Whiteside
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2011-12, 2015-16, 2020-21 and 2021-22
- Statistics: 9.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, 2.3 blocks per game, 56.6% field goal percentage
-
Jalen Brunson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22
- Statistics: 16.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists per game, 50.2% field goal percentage
-
Khris Middleton
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15
- Statistics: 11.8 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 44.9% field goal percentage
-
Draymond Green
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2014-15
- Statistics: 11.7 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, 44.3% field goal percentage
-
Malcolm Brogdon
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 14.5 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 49.5% field goal percentage
-
Naz Reid
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23
- Statistics: 10.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 1.0 assists per game, 49.0% field goal percentage
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Paul Millsap
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2021-22
- Statistics: 9.4 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 46.1% field goal percentage
-
Spencer Dinwiddie
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2015-16, 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 13.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 5.4 assists per game, 39.3% field goal percentage
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DeShawn Stevenson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2006-07 and 2007-08
- Statistics: 11.2 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game, 42.3% field goal percentage
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Jordan Clarkson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2014-15 and 2015-16
- Statistics: 14.0 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game, 44.0% field goal percentage
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Dwyane Wade
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 13.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, 43.2% field goal percentage
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Dillon Brooks
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20
- Statistics: 12.8 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, 41.6% field goal percentage
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Josh Richardson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2023-24
- Statistics: 10.3 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, 43.5% field goal percentage
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Duncan Robinson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2019-20 and 2020-21
- Statistics: 13.3 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 45.4% field goal percentage
It seems like you provided a list of NBA players who played under minimum contracts along with their statistics during those seasons. If you have a specific question or need assistance with a particular aspect of this information, please let me know!
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In the NBA, various contract types exist, including super maximums, veteran contracts, two-way agreements, rookie deals, and more. Today, however, we will spotlight the lesser-discussed minimum contracts. Players might find themselves in minimum salary situations for various reasons: they could be early in their careers, nearing the end, or they have yet to tap into their full potential, leading franchises to opt for a safer financial strategy with lower salaries.
Embedded in this exploration, you will encounter basketball icons such as Michael Jordan during his later seasons with the Washington Wizards, alongside other renowned figures like Dwyane Wade, Draymond Green, and Nikola Jokic, the remarkable three-time MVP who remains a strong contender to claim the coveted award again this year.
The 20 biggest bargains in NBA history:
-
Michael Jordan
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2001-02 and 2002-03
- Statistics: 21.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, 43.0% field goal percentage
-
Monta Ellis
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2006-07 and 2007-08
- Statistics: 18.1 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, 50.3% field goal percentage
-
Isaiah Thomas
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 15.0 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 42.1% field goal percentage
-
Nikola Jokic
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18
- Statistics: 18.5 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, 6.1 assists per game, 49.9% field goal percentage
-
Carlos Boozer
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2002-03 and 2003-04
- Statistics: 12.6 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 52.9% field goal percentage
-
Gilbert Arenas
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2001-02 and 2002-03
- Statistics: 15.6 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 5.3 assists per game, 44.2% field goal percentage
-
Hassan Whiteside
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2011-12, 2015-16, 2020-21 and 2021-22
- Statistics: 9.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, 2.3 blocks per game, 56.6% field goal percentage
-
Jalen Brunson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22
- Statistics: 16.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists per game, 50.2% field goal percentage
-
Khris Middleton
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15
- Statistics: 11.8 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 44.9% field goal percentage
-
Draymond Green
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2014-15
- Statistics: 11.7 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, 44.3% field goal percentage
-
Malcolm Brogdon
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 14.5 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 49.5% field goal percentage
-
Naz Reid
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23
- Statistics: 10.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 1.0 assists per game, 49.0% field goal percentage
-
Paul Millsap
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2021-22
- Statistics: 9.4 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 46.1% field goal percentage
-
Spencer Dinwiddie
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2015-16, 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Statistics: 13.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 5.4 assists per game, 39.3% field goal percentage
-
DeShawn Stevenson
- Seasons with minimum contract: 2006-07 and 2007-08
- Statistics: 10.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 43.0% field goal percentage
