Players in the NBA are making more money than ever. And with the new television deal that the NBA signed, contracts and salaries will only rise. This year’s first overall pick, Cooper Flagg, has the potential to become the first NBA billionaire only by contract earnings. There are billionaire players in the NBA, but up until a year or two, the big milestone was earning $500 million in contracts. Cooper has the potential to reach $1 billion by the time he turns 32 years old.
Cooper Flagg and the Rise of the Billion-Dollar Athlete
Being the first overall pick in the NBA has its own perks. While it puts pressure on players to perform, it also gives them the highest salary. With the way the salaries are going up, the projection for Cooper Flagg’s contract earnings is massive. Per Sportac, here is how much he can earn before turning 32 years of age.
- Rookie Contract 2025-28, $62.7 million
- 30% Supermax extension 2029-33, $359 million
- 35% Supermax extension 2034-38, $509 million
- Total – $930 million before 32 years of age
Of course, for this to happen, he will have to remain with the Dallas Mavericks for the majority of his career. As we saw with Luka Doncic, nothing is guaranteed with the Mavs. But if Cooper has the career many believe he is capable of having, he might very well become the first billionaire basketball player from contract earnings only.
Cooper vs. the Billionaires
LeBron James is the only player in league history who has made more than $500 million in salary alone throughout his career. Steph Curry and Kevin Durant will probably hit that mark when their careers are over. All three of them have earned more than $1 billion in their careers when you account for endorsement money.
Think about this for a second. Throughout his career, LeBron is currently at $528 million in salary. Flagg can earn double by the time he is 32 years old. Steph Curry has yet to hit the $500 million mark and will do it with his salary in 2026-27.
We will wait to see whether KD re-signs with the Houston Rockets and for what price. But he also has the potential to hit the $500 million mark.
To put things in perspective, Shaquille O’Neal, who once signed the richest contract in league history at seven years, $120 million, and earned $283 million throughout his career. Role players nowadays earn more than max salary guys in the 2000s.
How Can Cooper Flagg Earn the Mega Contract?
Cooper Flagg might be the most hyped American draft pick in the last several years. Zion Williamson and Anthony Edwards might come close, but Edwards was picked during the COVID-19 pandemic draft. Zion was a freakish athlete, and Flagg has the potential to become better than both of them.
To meet the criteria for the 30% and 35% supermax extensions, Flagg has to make an All-NBA team, win the regular season MVP award, or win the DPOY award. Here are the specifics:
- Players named to All-NBA first, second, or third team in the most recent season or both of the two seasons prior to the most recent season.
- Won a Defensive Player of the Year in the most recent season or both of the two seasons prior to the most recent season.
- Won an MVP award in any of the three most recent seasons.
So, if Flagg makes the All-NBA team two times, he can sign a supermax extension. With that, he will earn unprecedented money from his salary in all North American sports. For comparison, baseball star Juan Soto signed a $765 million deal that will take him through his 30s. And Cooper will earn more by the time his second supermax contract expires.
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