The NBA has seen some astronomical contracts over the years; with players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry setting new records for the highest salaries in the league. However, the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent contract extension with Anthony Davis has taken things to a whole new level.? While Michael Jordan‘s career earnings from NBA totaled $94 million, Davis is set to receive a jaw-dropping three-year, $186M deal. It is the richest extension in NBA history in terms of average annual value ($62 million).

This deal is undoubtedly a massive windfall for Davis. But there’s a strange wrinkle that the Lakers have added to the contract to protect themselves in the long run.

The interesting wrinkle in Davis’ contract

While the deal appears to be a massive payday for Davis, there’s an intriguing twist that the Lakers have incorporated. As reported by Jovan Buha of The Athletic, initially, Davis held a player option for the 2024-25 season. If he declined, would have made him eligible for a new five-year max contract worth a staggering $304 million.

However, by extending Davis’s contract now and converting the player option into another guaranteed year, the Lakers are paying him slightly below his max. This way, they are reducing the overall commitment to Davis to $270.5 million over five seasons.

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This strategic move allows the Lakers to mitigate some of the risk associated with signing a now-30-year-old player with a history of injuries. The Lakers secure financial flexibility by offering Davis a slightly lower salary in the final year. It’s a calculated gamble for the Lakers, aiming to secure their franchise’s future even for the post-LeBron James era.

AD’s groundbreaking contract extension with the Lakers solidifies his position as one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. The deal, the richest extension in NBA history, cleverly safeguards the Lakers’ future interests.

How does the record-breaking deal look with Michael Jordan’s career earnings?

Anthony Davis, an eight-time NBA All-Star, is no stranger to big contracts. Still, the extension he signed with the Lakers this week takes things to another level. The three-year, $186M deal pushes his contract value with the Lakers to an astonishing $270.5M for the next five seasons. This makes him one of the highest-paid players in the league, surpassing even the likes of James in annual earnings.

Anthony Davis’ record-breaking deal with the Lakers places him in a league of his own; but how does it compare to the career earnings of basketball legend Michael Jordan?

With Davis’ staggering $270.5 million contract, Michael Jordan’s highest cumulative career earnings in the NBA stand at $94 million. With the highest annual salary of $33M, Bulls legend, Jordan’s numbers are almost half of AD’s new deals.

Moreover, King James remains the highest cumulative career earner in the NBA, with $431.86 million throughout his illustrious career.

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