San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson is the NBA's highest-paid player this season at $5.72 million, and he's among the 173 players in the league who are making more than $1 million, according to a published report.
Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan is the second-highest paid at $4 million. The Dallas Morning News also reported in its Sunday edition that the Boston Celtics have the league's highest team payroll at $24.998 million, while the Dallas Mavericks are at the bottom at $11.459 million.The Celtics and 20 other teams are over the NBA's $14 million salary cap, according to the report.
The reason so many teams are over the cap, determined by taking 53 percent of the NBA's defined gross revenues, is because clubs are allowed to exceed the cap to resign their players. Additional salary slots are created when a team loses a player for the season because of to injury.
Despite appearances, team officials said they aren't trying to push their payrolls up. On the contrary, staying under the cap expands a team's possible deals.
"It just gives you tremendous flexibility," said New York Knicks president David Checketts, whose payroll is exactly $14 million. "No team will be able to stay under the cap very long. Next year, we'll be way over.
"But you'd better love your team before you go over. Once you're over, your ability to sign free agents and to make deals is really hindered."
No matter how far the Spurs go over the cap - they're fifth this season at $18.223 million - Robinson will continue to rank at or near the top of the league's salary structure during the remaining four years of his contract.
The reason is a unique clause in his contract that pays him the average of the league's two highest-paid players. He can become an unrestricted free agent if the team chooses not to pay that amount.
General managers say Robinson's type of contract is what drives up leaguewide salary figures. But agent Lee Fentress, Robinson's agent, prefers to call the deal he forged creative.
"I don't think the league will ever approve another contract like this," Fentress said. "We were fortunate."
Gary Bettman, who was the NBA's senior vice president and general counsel and is now the NHL's commissioner-elect, said the league approved the unusual contract before its last collective bargaining agreement. Another such deal will never materialize, he said.
"It wouldn't be approved again," Bettman said. "It's inconsistent with fixed compensation under the cap."
Behind Robinson and Jordan are Cleveland forward John Williams at $3.785 million and Los Angeles Lakers center Vlade Divac at $3.633 million.
The report also showed that four members of the U.S. Olympic basketball "Dream Team" aren't among the league's financial elite.
Phoenix's Charles Barkley ($2.4 million), Utah's Karl Malone ($2.85 million), Portland's Clyde Drexler ($1.37 million) and Minnesota's Christian Laettner ($2.1 million) don't rank among the five highest paid players at their positions.
The league's big men continued to demand big salaries. Of the 16 players who make $3 million or more this season, only Jordan, Boston's Reggie Lewis ($3.3 million) and Indiana's Reggie Miller ($3.2 million) are guards.
*****
(Chart)
Top NBA salaries
The top 10 NBA 1992 salaries, as reported by The Dallas Morning News in Sunday's editions (figures in millions):
Player, Team Salary
1. David Robinson, S.A. $5.72
2. Michael Jordan, Chi. $4.0
3. John Williams, Cle. $3.785
4. Vlade Divac, Lakers $3.633
5. Robert Parish, Bos. $3.512
6. Dominique Wilkins, Atl. $3.5
6. Kevin McHale, Bos. $3.5
8. Scottie Pippen, Chi $3,425
9. Reggie Lewis, Bos. $3.32
10. Patrick Ewing, NY $3.3
NBA payrolls
The 1992 NBA payrolls, as reported by The Dallas Morning News in Sunday's editions (figure in millions):
Team Payroll
1. Boston $24.998
2. Cleveland $19.675
3. L.A. Lakers $18.851
4. Chicago $18.535
5. San Antonio $18.223
6. Atlanta $18.035
7. Philadelphia $17.368
8. Washington $17.249
9. Portland $16.369
10. New Jersey $16.314
11. Indiana $16.267
12. Houston $15.902
13. Golden State $15.473
14. Miami $15.125
15. Orlando $14.969
16. Utah $14.517
17. Phoenix $14.305
18. L.A. Clippers $14.287
19. Charlotte $14.151
20. Seattle $14.033
21. Milwaukee $14.032
22. New York $14.000
23. Detriot $13.953
24. Sacramento $13.953
25. Denver $13.776
26. Minnesota $13.731
27. Dallas $11.459