"Pistol" Pete Maravich was one of the best players in NBA history. He was the youngest player to enter the hall of fame, named one of the top 50 greatest players in NBA history, and at the time he was drafted, the highest rookie contract ever. His contract was $1.9 million for 5 years. Using the GDP deflator of 1970 his contract turns to about $8.18966 million for 5 years. Now this top 50 player had a rookie contract in our 2013 dollars of about $1.637932 million per year.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson is a top 50 player who won has 5 NBA championship rings, a 3 time NBA finals MVP, a 3 time NBA MVP, a 12 time NBA all star, the per game assist leader, a 2 time NBA all star MVP (once while he was retired), and on 9 all NBA first team's. Per game in the regular season he averaged 19.5 ppg, 11.2 apg, and 7.2 rpg. Just 2.8 rpg away from a triple double per game. His rookie contract reflects his entire career, phenomenal. At the time he signed a contract of $25 million for 25 years. Using the GDP deflator of 1980 his contract jumps to about $54.23 million for 25 years to come to a per year of about $2.1692 million a year.
Michael Jordan is the one of two players to be on a team that has "3peated" twice and the other being his teammate Scottie Pippen. He is the points per game leader, the second of two players ever to score over 3,000 points in one season. He won 2 NBA all star slam dunk contests along with being a 6 time finals MVP and belonging to a team that when they did reach the finals, they both never lost and also never played a seventh game to win. In his rookie year like his contract was great. Scoring 28.2 ppg, at 51.5 FG%. His contract was for $6 million for 5 years and converted to 2013 dollars he had about $10.6875667 million for 5 years. He earned about $2.137 million a year.
My favorite basketball player of all time .... Larry "Legend". Larry Bird was at least to me the greatest player ever to play in the NBA without question. He personified hustle, consistency, skill, desire, and winning in general. The Legend scored 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.8 bpg, 49.6 FG%, 37.6 3PT%, 88.6 FT%. He had 3 straight NBA MVP's, a 12 time NBA all star, 9 time all NBA first team, NBA rookie of the year, 3 NBA championship rings, 2 time NBA finals MVP. He won 3 NBA all star 3 point shooting contest in 3 attempts, NBA top 50 player, in the basketball hall of fame, and a top ten all time FT% leader. When Larry Bird first entered the league for the Boston Celtics he earned the all time record for wins added in comparison to the previous season. What that means is the previous season without having Larry, the Boston Celtics had a record in 1979 of 29-53. When they acquired Larry, the Boston Celtics had a record in 1980 of 61-21. The Legend is the greatest of all time in terms of basketball and a fifthish to last fact that he is ranked 5th in all time triple double's in a career with a career double double for per game stats. His rookie contract in 1980 was $3.5 million for 5 years. Using the GDP deflator in 2013, he had a contract of about $8.327385 million with a per year of $1.665477 million. He was consistent, skilled, and clutch. Here's my last fact, "
If I had to choose a player to take a shot to win a game I'd choose Michael Jordan, if I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life I'd pick Larry Bird" (Pat Riley).
