It’s the signing that shook the basketball world. Well, sort of. When DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Golden State Warriors it basically just made an already proven super team even more… super. It's basically like droping a Mentos into a bottle of flat Diet Coke.
The starting five for the Warriors basically looks like an all-star starting lineup, and as a result NBA fans everywhere are still trying to focus after an eye-roll for the ages.
Well his first Championship ring looks to have been laid on a silver platter, the man they call “Boogie” didn’t find himself in this position for free. In fact, it was a decision that likely cost him millions of dollars.
Cousins found his way to the Bay by way of taking a huge pay cut. After making over $18 million in 2017-18, Boogie was in line for an even larger contract. Instead he ended up signing the dotted line for a $5.3 million dollar contract. For most that would be a life-changing amount of money, for NBA players… well… here are some of the NBA players around that that salary mark
Meanwhile near the top of the list you’ll find the elite players, a category in which Cousins can relate to more closely, making somewhere in the range of $25-$35 million.
That’s a huge pay cut. As a matter of fact, it’s more in the range of what you’d see being distributed to NHL players. Despite both being the best of the best players in the world, the much more lucrative NBA is able to pay its players a heck of a lot more money.
To put it into perspective, there are only eight NHL players that will be making more than $10 million next season. Compare that next to 122 NBA players that made more than $10 million last year and you’ve got yourself a pretty clear picture of the difference.
So with the massive difference in average salaries in mind, here’s a look at some NHL players that you never in a million years would expect to be making more than an elite NBA player like Boogie.
NOTE: Keep in mind this is their salary for NEXT YEAR. This is not their average annual salary over the duration of their contract, which could be lower than next year’s salary depending on how the individual contract is structured.
Dave Bolland: Owed $5.5 million despite not playing in a NHL game last year
Andrej Sekera: Eight points in 36 games last year, -15 rating. Owed $5.5 million next season
Tomas Tatar: Shows flashes of goal scoring touch, but hasn’t fully put it together. Owed $5.5 million next season
Danny DeKeyser: Notably overpaid, DeKeyser is owed $5.5 million despite being on the second pairing of one of the worst defensive corps in the league, and generating next to nothing on offence (24 points in 147 games over the past two seasons). He will be making more than an elite player in a league that pays waaaay more.
Brandon Dubinsky: A solid role player, but not worth the $5.85 million he is owed next season.
Frans Nielsen: One of the Detroit Red Wings many bad contracts, Nielsen will be making $700k more than Boogie at $6 million.
Andrew MacDonald: In the league since the 2008-09 season, the blueliner has only managed to breach the 20-point mark three times as he enters his 11th season with a salary of $5.5 million
Tyler Bozak: A good face off man, and a solid depth centre, Bozak will be joining the St. Louis Blues with a salary of $5.5 million next season
Andrew Ladd: The former Winnipeg Jets captain is a bigger name than he is presence on the ice, yet he will be making more than one of the biggest presence in the NBA at $6 million.
Bryan Little: Another former source of production for the Jets, Little is much less of a threat than he used to be. Despite that, he’s making $6.5 million next season
Zach Parise: The former point per game producer has become a very lukewarm forward, yet he will be making almost $4 million more than Boogie with a salary of $9 million.
The list goes on and on. With most expecting Boogie to receive a contract that would almost double the largest salary in the NHL next season, there are 182 NHLers that will be making more than DeMarcus Cousins.
Boogie better hope his decision brings a ring, because that’s a huge amount of money to give up for a shot at the title.
