Luka Doncic will be eligible for a new contract extension next season, which could be worth more than $346 million. Assuming he remains at the top of his game through the turn of the decade, he could earn more than $100 million per year with the new TV deal and the salary cap set to skyrocket by 2031. The usual supermax contract includes a player earning 35% of the salary cap, and the NBA salary cap is expected to exceed $300 million by 2032.
With these big numbers in mind, the great monetary mind of Shaquille O’Neal gave Doncic some advice on an episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” this week.
“Luka’s gonna make $100 million. If I were him,” O’Neal began, “I’d say, ‘OK, just pay me $20 million this year and roll that $80 million over until I’m done playing.’ Because you know that $80 million is not going to be $80 million after taxes, just pay me $20 million and put the other $80 million after taxes away. I don’t want to see it until I’m 35.”
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O’Neal blew his first NBA contract in about 30 minutes, but he’s since become a mogul, investing in numerous business opportunities and appearing in nearly every commercial that comes his way. While Doncic is more selective in his investments, deferring some of that money could be beneficial.
THE The Dallas Mavericks will happily give Doncic $100 million per year in a contract if he stays on his current trajectory. In six seasons, he has made five All-NBA First Team appearances and the Conference Finals twice, including an NBA Finals appearance last season. He should have a few MVP awards and championships in his future if his past is any indication. He has won at every level of basketball and helped the Mavs through a few down seasons. Nico Harrison By improving the roster at every turn, Doncic has the best team he’s ever played on, on paper, heading into the 2024-25 season.
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