30 richest players in the NBA
By John Buhler
LaMarcus Aldridge
Power Forward, San Antonio Spurs
LaMarcus Aldridge was the biggest name to hit unrestricted free agency in summer 2015. He opted to leave the Portland Trail Blazers to play in his native Texas for the San Antonio Spurs. His new deal with the Spurs has helped him land $124,932,863 worth of NBA salary to date.
Aldridge began his NBA career as the No. 2 pick by the Chicago Bulls out of Texas in the 2006 NBA Draft. He was traded draft night to the Trail Blazers, where he played his first nine NBA seasons. Out of college, Aldridge negotiated a two-year, $8.36 million contract.
Portland naturally extended its team options on Aldridge the next two season at $4.6 and $5.84 million. In October 2009, Aldridge agreed to a five-year, $67.5 million rookie extension with the Trail Blazers. He would play that out before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2015.
That would be the first time that it could financially make sense for Aldridge to leave the Pacific Northwest. Portland was in the mix to retain him, but the two teams that it came down to for him were the Phoenix Suns and the Spurs. Aldridge would sign a four-year deal worth $84.1 million to sign with the Spurs in July 2015.
Aldridge is under contract through the 2018-19 NBA season with a player option for 2018. Should he opt into the fourth year of this Spurs deal, Aldridge would stand to make $168,740,888 of salary before hitting free agency again at 34 years old.
At his peak, Aldridge was a top 15-25 player in the NBA, certainly a perennial All-Star and All-NBA selection. Being that he was the best free agent in summer 2015, he earned every penny he got. It will be more worthwhile if he helps the Spurs win a sixth NBA title.