The NBA has become really lucrative for all parties concerned. Per data from Forbes, NBA teams generated around $10 billion dollars in revenue in the 2021-22 season. In 2019, revenues stood at $8.8 billion dollars. The post-pandemic return was a 57% growth in revenues. The increase in revenue has led to multi-million dollar contracts being handed to players. And some former NBA players think that the contracts being handed out now are getting ridiculous by the year.

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson lashed out at the NBA team’s payroll discrepancy. He even singled out former title-winning teammate Stephen Curry.

Stephen Jackson taking shots at Otto Porter Jr.

The NBA has scaled new heights of popularity in recent years, and that has led to an increase in viewership numbers. With larger broadcasting deals, NBA teams have more money than ever before. This has caused inflation in player contracts and this has led to many players bagging contracts worth more than $100 million dollars.

Former Warrior and 1x title winner Otto Porter Jr. was called out by Stephen Jackson for not being worth his contract. Otto Porter Jr. signed a four-year contract worth $106 million dollars in 2017.

Stephen Jackson lashed out at the payroll discrepancy. Jackson spoke about the issue during All the Smoke podcast. He said, “It’s hard to set expectations when you got so many players that got good money, that ain’t done s**t…. Otto Porter, where he at? He got $100M in Washington and we haven’t seen him since”.

Two years after signing the multi-million contract, Otto got traded to the Chicago Bulls. He also joined the Warriors for the 2021-22 season in which he helped Steph and Co. win their fourth NBA title. Currently, Otto has signed a two-year contract worth $12.3 million dollars with the Raptors.

NBA Growing at a Rapid Rate

The NBA has witnessed significant growth in viewership over the years, solidifying its status as one of the world’s premier sports leagues. This expansion can be attributed to various factors. The league’s global appeal has soared, driven by international stars like Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming. The emergence of European talents like Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo has also been a factor in the league’s growing global appeal.

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On average, almost 1.59 million viewers tuned in to watch NBA games across ABC, ESPN, and TNT in the 2022/23 season. The NBA is further looking to expand into untapped markets like the Middle East and South Asia. What are your opinions on the NBA’s expansion? Let us know in the comments below.

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