4x Champion, Not Stephen Curry, Could Become NBA’s Highest Earner in 2028 by Inking Loyalty to the Warriors

We have seen some bonanza contract extensions lately. Anthony Davis signed a three-year $186 million mega-extension. He is now going to earn north of $60 million per year and this is a game changer. Then we had the biggest contract in NBA history. Jaylen Brown signed a five-year $304 million deal to shatter the glass ceiling. Thus, for superstars or star-level players, contracts exceeding $60 million per year are becoming the norm. With the way things are going, soon, a $80 million per year supermax contract can also become commonplace.

What about extending players who deliver consistently but are getting deep in their 30s? Is there a guarantee they’d perform at that level deep into their contract? In this regard, Stephen Curry and the Warriors are facing a tricky situation. How much can they afford to give to a star player who has helped them win four titles?

Stephen Curry and his squad have to navigate through the luxury tax bill

The Warriors are once again paying the highest luxury tax in the whole NBA. They are going to pay around $188 million. It is because their top-five contracts are in the $20-$50 million range. Stephen Curry will enter the second year of his $215 million contract and is set to make over $50 million this season. Meanwhile, the new arrival Chris Paul’s contract is going to cost $30 million.

But more than that, it is the Klay Thompson decision that has posed challenges to the management.

He is going to enter the last year of his five-year $189 million contract. In the final year, he is going to make around $43 million. Therefore, a contract extension is looming. For someone who has already made $40 million per year and led the league in total threes made last season, expectations can be high.

The current market can potentially offer more than $50 million per year for his services. As for the Warriors, they can also offer a blockbuster deal. 

READ MORE: Amid Klay Thompson’s Uncertain Future, Andre Iguodala Reaffirms “Legacy” of Warriors Big 3: “Have to Finish Their Careers Together”

Let us explore the possibility of a supermax extension.

What will Klay Thompson’s next contract look like?

What if the Shooting Guard gets a contract that takes over the current value of Curry’s contract? As per Spotrac, the sharpshooter is eligible for a five-year $288 million, which is just $16 million shy of Brown’s contract. If this contract materializes, he can earn around $65 million in the last year of his contract, which will begin in 2028. As per the current slate, this will make him the highest earner for that year. But with the dynamic nature of contracts, that value can be surpassed too.

But given the Warriors’ bloated luxury tax expenses, this contract looks more like a fantasy scenario. There is a chance they give him a deal that is a four-year $100-120 million type. If Thompson wants to end his career securely and with the franchise that helped him flourish, he can ink this one. However, the allure of the current market can sway the pendulum. 

Will he sign an extension with the Warriors before the end of the 2023-24 season?

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