Giannis Antetokounmpo probably will set the going rate for the NBA’s best players in the new decade.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward was named to the All-NBA first team for the 2018-19 season Thursday. Because this is Antetokounmpo’s second consecutive appearance among the best of the NBA’s best, he jumps into an unrivaled contract bracket, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Earning All-NBA for a second consecutive season now has Giannis Antetokounmpo eligible in the summer of 2020 to sign the largest contract in NBA history. The five-year extension starting in 2021-22 would be worth $247.3M and carry a $42.6, $46.0, $49.5, $52.9 and $56.3M cap hit.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 23, 2019
Antetokounmpo will enter the final year of his current contract in July 2020, opening the window for the Bucks to re-sign the NBA MVP contender for that record $247.3 million in total salary.
The Bucks almost certainly will offer him that super-max contract, lest they risk losing their franchise player, who helped transform them from afterthought to NBA Finals contender.
Antetokounmpo just might become the NBA’s first super-max player, unless Charlotte Hornet guard Kemba Walker and/or Portland Trail Blazers guard Dame Lillard beat him him to the mark and re-sign with their original teams.
Here are the options for Kemba Walker as he enters free agency:
Super max- 5 years/$221M
Bird (w/CHA)- 5 years/$190M
Team w/room- 4 years/$141M
Difference between the super max and signing with a new team is $80M.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 23, 2019
Damian Lillard, Blazers are expected to agree to a four-year, $191M supermax extension this offseason, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/XHnO3Gqalb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 21, 2019
Anthony Davis will become eligible to sign such a contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, but he already informed the team he has no intention of doing so and has requested a trade.
Regardless of the order in which players pen super-max contracts, Antetokounmpo’s would be worth more than the others, reflecting his status as the NBA’s biggest star in 2021 and beyond.
