10 most valuable contracts in the NBA
By Bryce Olin
4. Steph Curry (4 years, $44 million)
This is the guy I was thinking of as the best shooter in the league.
| Season | MP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 ★ | 36.5 | .471 | .424 | .885 | 4.3 | 8.5 | 1.6 | 24.0 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/22/2014.
The Golden State Warriors took a gamble with Steph Curry when he so many ankle injuries and missed some time during the 2011-12 season that was shortened by the lockout. In that season, Curry only played in 26 games for the Warriors.
Curry bounced back the next season and played in 78 of the 82 games, earning the right to a nice extension. The Warriors were still a little skeptical of committing long-term on Curry, but as you know, Curry bet on himself, took the contract, and played his way into a much bigger contract coming up in three years, barring any major injuries, of course.
Right now, Curry is the second-best point guard in the NBA behind Chris Paul… but he makes slightly more than half of what Chris Paul makes ($21.5 million per season). That great value for the Warriors, considering point guard is the toughest position in the league and they have the second-best player at that position for half of what they should be paying.
That fact alone has given Golden State the ability to go out in free agency and sign Andre Igoudala to his lucrative four-year, $48 million contract. The moves haven’t exactly paid off for the Warriors yet, but they’re in the thick of the playoff hunt every year and competing in the playoffs. What more could you ask for?
Steph Curry’s contract makes it all possible.