It’s always the superstars that get the headlines. Everyone talks about what the Warriors would’ve been without Steph Curry, or what the Bulls would’ve been without Michael Jordan. But the tide’s turning on credit. Fans and media outlets have realized the importance of supporting characters in the story of the teams. This season, the best outright team is the Cleveland Cavaliers. With their star players like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley stealing the headlines, supporting characters like Dean Wade go under the radar.

His box score numbers might not jump off the page, but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. As a rotational and situational substitute, he gives the starters the breathing room they need to recover and keep pushing. Kenny Atkinson values him highly, and that respect is reflected in his paycheck with the 2016 champions.

Now, let’s dive into the details—his contract, salary, endorsements, and everything that makes up his financial portfolio.

What is Dean Wade’s NBA salary? How much does he make a year?

After a brilliant college career for the Kansas State Wildcats, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft. After going undrafted, he signed a two-way contract with the Cavs allowing him to play for their G League affiliate Cleveland Charge. His valiant contributions in the NBA and in the G League where he averaged 14.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks across 30 appearances was enough to justify him signing a multi-year Rest-of-Season contract in 2020.

This multi-year contract was a 4-year deal worth $5,606,283. This put his average salary at $1,401,571. Well, money talks. That season ended up being his best till date. He had career-high points per game (6), career-high appearances (63), career-high assists (1.2) and career-high FT% (76.9%). He also managed his first ever NBA double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 111-102 loss to the Pacers in May 2021.

He cemented himself as a regular starter when Lauri Markkanen went down with a long-term injury during the 2021-22 season. Just as his performances were soaring, though, he suffered a setback—missing two months after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Despite the injury, the Cavs showed their faith in him, picking up his fourth-year team option worth $1.93 million just a few months later.

His final extension is what he’s on right now. In 2023, he signed a veteran contract extension with Cleveland. This was a 3 year, $18,500,000 contract which gave him a base salary of $5,709,877 during his first season. This constituted to 4.20% of his team’s cap. The current season sees him earn $6,166,667 (4.39% of team’s cap) and the next year will see him earn $6,623,456 (4.28% of team’s cap) at the age of 29.

What are Dean Wade’s investments and endorsements?

Unfortunately, most details about his financial portfolio remain undisclosed. The only figure out there? His career earnings—an estimated $17,482,827, according to Spotrac. With his contract set to expire at the end of next season, he’s heading toward unrestricted free agency. But one thing’s for sure—Kenny Atkinson won’t let him walk without a fight.

“What a find for the Cavs. That’s going to go down as one of the great finds in the last 10 years. You know, undrafted, it’s a beautiful story,” said Atkinson earlier this season. He saw it coming. From the start, Atkinson knew Wade would play a crucial role in the Wine and Gold’s deep push toward the Finals this year.

Dean Wade’s existence in the league might be for a bigger cause that personal glory and news headlines. He’s an example of a bona fide team player in a team sport. If not for him, the big guns wouldn’t shine the way they do.