Fansided

30 richest players in the NBA

By John Buhler

Feb 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a play during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 113-104. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a play during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 113-104. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 4, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) walks off the court after fouling out during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Grizzlies won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) walks off the court after fouling out during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Grizzlies won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
10

Zach Randolph

Power Forward, Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Randolph is an important player for the Grit N’ Grind era of the Memphis Grizzlies. He has been in the league for 15 seasons, making two All-Star teams with the Grizzlies. Randolph is beloved in Memphis, but it is strange to see him as the 10th richest active NBA player.

For whatever reason, people tend to forget that Randolph has been in the league since 2001 and is 35 years old. The former standout for the Michigan State Spartans has made $172,597,245 in NBA salary.

Randolph signed a three-year rookie deal with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2001, worth $3.29 million. Portland would exercise its player option on Randolph for a fourth season, costing the Trail Blazers $1.5 million. Randolph would garner his first big payday in November 2004, signing a six-year rookie extension with the Trail Blazers worth $84.3 million.

Before that six-year contract expired, Randolph would be traded three times. First, he went to the New York Knicks in June 2007. Randolph would then go to the Los Angeles Clippers in November 2008. In 2009, he would find his most recent home with the Grizzlies.

Randolph would agree to a four-year veteran extension with the Grizzlies in 2011. He would opt-in for the final year of his contract, making $16.5 million for 2014-15 in June 2014. That same day, Randolph would ink a two-year extension with the Grizzlies that would run through the 2016-17 NBA season, earning him an additional $20 million on a two-year deal.

From his early beginnings as a bit of a head case with the Jail Blazers in the early 2000s, Randolph has successfully pivoted as an NBA professional basketball player. His adopted home of Memphis has helped make him one of the richest players in the NBA today.

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