After factoring in multiple NBA max contracts this offseason, seven guards have $200 million salaries in 2022. The list includes Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry, Trae Young, Russell Westbrook, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic and Zach LaVine. Though, which NBA guard is the highest paid player here? Find out below.
Read our list of the best NBA betting sites and sportsbooks in 2022.
NBA Max Contracts for Guards in 2022
While forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and centers Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert also signed $200 million contracts, this article is focusing solely on guards. Without a perimeter shooter or agile defender in the backcourt, a team suffers. Continue scrolling to view the seven guards featured here with NBA max contracts.
7.) Russell Westbrook — five-year, $205 million deal
First off, Russell Westbrook signed a five-year, $205 million contract with the Thunder on Sept. 29, 2017. This was two years before the team traded him to the Rockets. Last month, the nine-time All-Star opted in with the Lakers for the 2022-23 season. The guard is entering the final year of his contract.
He is set to earn $47,063,478 next season. In the 2021-22 season, in a total of 78 games played, the triple-double king averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1 steal per game. Plus, he averaged 44.4% shooting from the field and 29.8% from 3-point range.
6.) Trae Young — five-year, $207 million contract
Next, Trae Young signed a five-year, $207 million designated rookie maximum extension with the Hawks on Aug. 3, 2021. He will make $29.75 million next season and $32.13 million in the 2023-24 season. Last season, the fourth-year guard averaged 28.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game in a total of 76 games played.
Not to mention, he earned his first All-NBA Third-Team selection this past season. On Jan. 3, in the Hawks’ 136-131 loss to the Trail Blazers, Young scored a career-high 56 points. He shot 17-for-26 (65%) from the field. The soon-to-be 24-year-old is one of the highest paid guards in the NBA for the reasons listed above.
5.) Luka Doncic — five-year, $207 million contract
Furthermore, Luka Doncic signed a five-year, $207 million rookie extension with the Mavericks on Aug. 10, 2021. He is expected to earn $35.7 million next season and $38.556 million in the 2023-24 season. The guard will also make $47.124 million in the final year of his contract (2026-27 season).
Last season, Doncic ranked third in the league in…