After being included in several NBA max contracts this offseason, seven guards have $200 million in salary cap space in 2022. The list includes Bradley Bell, Stephen Curry, Trae Young, Russell Westbrook, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic and Zach LaVine. However, 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 signed $200 million contracts, this article will focus exclusively on guards. A perimeter shooter in the backcourt or an efficient defensive team will suffer. Keep scrolling to see the seven guards offered with the NBA’s highest contracts here.
7.) Russell Westbrook – Five-year, $205 million deal
First, Russell Westbrook signed a five-year, $205 million contract with the Thunder on September 29, 2017. This was two years before the team changed to the Rockets. Last month, the nine-time All-Star opted out of the 2022-23 season with the Lakers. The keeper is entering the final year of his contract.
He is set to earn $47,063,478 next season. In a total of 78 games during the 2021-22 season, the triple-double king averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1 steal per game. He also shot 44.4% from the field and 29.8% from 3-point range.
6.) Trae Young – Five year, $207 million contract
Trae Young then signed a five-year, $207 million rookie max extension with the Hawks on August 3, 2021. He will make $29.75 million next season and $32.13 million in 2023-24. Last season, the fourth-year guard averaged 28.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists in 76 total games.
Not to mention, he earned his first All-NBA Third Team selection last season. On January 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
Luka Doncic also signed a five-year, $207 million rookie extension with the Mavericks on Aug. 10, 2021. He is expected to make $35.7 million next season and $38.556 million in 2023-24. The guard will make $47.124 million in the final year of his contract (2026-27 season).
Last season, Doncic averaged 28.4 points per game, ranking third in the league. The guard is the Mavs’ leading scorer, averaging 9.1 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He earned a third NBA All-Star selection and an All-NBA First Team selection. For other articles on the NBA’s top contracts, go to the main page.
In the year Check out our list of the top 10 beach betting sites in 2022. BetOnline and Bovada are giving away $1,000 sign-up bonuses today.
4.) Stephen Curry – Four-year, $215 million deal
In the year Stephen Curry signed a four-year, $215 million contract with the Warriors on August 2, 2021. The guard averaged 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists with the team. Curry won his fourth championship and first NBA Finals MVP last season. After averaging 23.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists with the Mavericks, he won the league’s first Western Conference Finals MVP.
In the Warriors’ season opener against the Lakers, the guard finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth career triple. In the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, Curry scored 50 points and set the record for most 3-pointers made in an All-Star quarter (6). He won his first NBA All-Star Game MVP, and the guard received his third All-NBA Second Team selection.
3.) Zach LaVine – five-year, $215.2 million contract
Also, Zach LaVine signed a five-year, $215.2 million contract extension with the Bulls earlier this month. LaVine is projected to make $37,096,500 next season and $40,064,220 in the 2023-24 season. He has a $48,967,380 player option for the 2026-27 season.
The two-time all-star averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 67 games last season. Averaged 47.6% from the floor and 38.9% from beyond the arc. In the first playoff appearance of his eight-year NBA career, LaVine scored 24 points in Game 4 of the Bulls’ 119-95 first-round loss.
2.) Devin Booker – Four-year, $224 million deal
Likewise, Devin Booker signed a four-year, $224 million max extension with the Suns. The extension is one of the more ridiculous NBA max contracts this season. But this is good news for Booker. The seven-year veteran will make $33,833,400 next season and $36,016,200 in 2023-24. Booker will earn a cap hit of $62.062 million through the 2027-28 season.
After averaging 26.8 points, 5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season, Booker earned his first All-NBA first team selection. The guard is ranked eighth in the NBA. And he averaged 46.6% shooting from the field and 38.3% from downtown.
1.) Bradley Beal – Five-year, $251 million contract
Finally, Bradley Bell signed a five-year, $251 million contract extension with the Wizards last month. This Agreement includes an unusual non-commercial clause. According to multiple sources, the guard has a $57,128,610 player option for the 2026-27 season. During the 2021-22 season, Beal averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 40 games.
The 10-year veteran underwent wrist surgery in late February. Of course, in the 2020-21 season, Beal averaged 31.3 points per game and is second only to Stephen Curry in scoring.
This contract is good for Washington if he can play at least 60 games per season for the rest of his NBA career. Even then, the Wizards haven’t advanced past the first round since the 2016-17 season. Other articles related to NBA top contracts can be found on the main page.
BetOnline, Bovada, BetUS and MyBookie are among themest online sportsbooks and betting sites for NBA betting. Read our list of the best online sportsbooks.
