Throughout his time within the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal was not recognized for leaving cash on the desk throughout negotiations to assist his groups out. Not like the Dirk Nowitzkis of the world, O’Neal wasn’t for giving his staff handouts, as a substitute selecting to make each penny potential, which he was nicely inside his proper to do, as he just about all the time lived as much as his max contracts.
Properly, our analysis confirms the concept that O’Neal drove a tough discount throughout his time within the NBA, as we discovered that the Massive Aristotle owned the most important share of staff payrolls within the NBA over the previous 40 years, even after we factored within the first 4 seasons of his profession by which he was on his rookie-scale contract, and the final marketing campaign of his profession when he was on a minimal deal.
Regardless, you may simply make the argument that O’Neal was value each greenback because the huge man had one of the crucial illustrious careers in NBA historical past, one headlined by his profitable 4 NBA championships, three Finals MVPs, one regular-season MVP and his making 15 All-Star appearances and 14 All-NBA groups.
In keeping with our analysis, different NBA stars come near O’Neal on this train, particularly David Robinson and Michael Jordan, who took up massive shares of their groups’ payrolls all through their careers. Jordan really completed No. 3 on this checklist, however that’s largely due to the 2 last years of his take care of the Bulls, which had been the most important salaries in NBA historical past if we modify to inflation.
Beneath, take a look at the NBA gamers who took the most important share of staff payrolls all through their careers.
Brian Bahr/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 29.20 %Largest share: 46.53 % in 2004-05 with MiamiProfession earnings: $292,198,327
DAN LEVINE/AFP through Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 27.16 percentBiggest share: 33.98 % in 1998-99 with San AntonioCareer earnings: $114,448,123
Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 25.97 percentBiggest share: 54.03 % in 1997-98 with ChicagoCareer earnings: $94,022,500
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 24.83 percentBiggest share: 42.34 % in 2002-03 with MinnesotaCareer earnings: $343,862,398
Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 23.87 percentBiggest share: 35.76 % in 2013-14 with LA LakersCareer earnings: $328,237,108
Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT
Share of his groups’ payroll: 23.85 percentCareer earnings: $17,244,000
RVR Photographs-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 23.61 percentBiggest share: 43.21 % in 1995-96 with New YorkCareer earnings: $125,193,120
Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 23.16 percentBiggest share: 33.25 % in 2018- with LA LakersCareer earnings: $531,322,273
Sporting Information through Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 22.59 percentBiggest share: 42.72 % in 1998-99 with HoustonCareer earnings: $110,291,426
Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 22.24 percentBiggest share: 37.79 % in 2002-03 with UtahCareer earnings: $105,933,378
Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 22.13 percentBiggest share: 31.29 % in 2019-20 with BrooklynCareer earnings: $457,119,040
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 21.51 percentBiggest share: 34.41 % in 2022-23 with HoustonCareer earnings: $276,580,866
Rob Carr/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 21.31 percentBiggest share: 29.82 % in 2019-20 with HoustonCareer earnings: $374,374,274
John Hefti-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 21.21 percentBiggest share: 31.22 % in 2024-25 with Golden StateCareer earnings: $413,605,898
Al Bello /Allsport
Share of his groups’ payroll: 20.79 percentBiggest share: 31.50 % in 1995-96 with WashingtonCareer earnings: $178,230,697
Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 20.78 percentBiggest share: 31.53 % in 2021-22 with PortlandCareer earnings: $329,998,763
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 20.38 percentBiggest share: 27.77 % in 2019-20 with BostonCareer earnings: $272,742,175
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.97 percentBiggest share: 28.47 % in 2022-23 with WashingtonCareer earnings: $319,772,793
Invoice Streicher-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.95 percentBiggest share: 26.48 % in 2024-25 with PhiladelphiaCareer earnings: $356,300,737
Emilee Chinn/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.77 percentBiggest share: 28.63 % in 2023-24 with PhiladelphiaCareer earnings: $266,714,364
Stephen Lew-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.62 percentBiggest share: 23.90 % in 2023-24 with LA LakersCareer earnings: $311,521,148
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.50 percentBiggest share: 32.10 % in 2020-21 with PhoenixCareer earnings: $400,637,385
Ronald Martinez/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.39 percentBiggest share: 30.28 % in 2008-09 with San AntonioCareer earnings: $245,964,351
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.19 percentBiggest share: 26.17 % in 2024-25 with MiamiCareer earnings: $312,683,265
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.10 percentBiggest share: 27.66 % in 2024-25 with DenverCareer earnings: $249,759,769
Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 19.06 percentBiggest share: 23.15 % in 1999-00 with MemphisCareer earnings: $55,638,898
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.89 percentBiggest share: 28.18 % in 2013-14 with OrlandoCareer earnings: $163,061,257
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.89 percentBiggest share: 28.03 % in 2024-25 with LA ClippersCareer earnings: $328,471,638
Soobum Im-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.61 percentBiggest share: 26.18 % in 2022-23 with MinnesotaCareer earnings: $261,348,195
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.60 percentBiggest share: 24.72 % in 2024-25 with MilwaukeeCareer earnings: $284,880,292
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.48 percentBiggest share: 25.88 % in 2015-16 with MiamiCareer earnings: $242,110,053
Brad Penner-Imagn Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.23 percentBiggest share: 25.72 % in 2024-25 with New YorkCareer earnings: $233,178,835
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports activities
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.04 percentBiggest share: 26.70 % in 2019-20 with BrooklynCareer earnings: $315,811,186
Concentrate on Sport/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 18.02 percentBiggest share: 21.07 % in 1990-91 with DetroitCareer earnings: $10,472,000
Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Pictures)
Share of his groups’ payroll: 17.93 percentBiggest share: 27.79 % in 2008-09 with HoustonCareer earnings: $163,057,818
Gregory Shamus/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 17.68 percentBiggest share: 29.17 % in 2008-09 with DetroitCareer earnings: $154,494,445
Mitchell Leff/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 17.57 percentBiggest share: 25.20 % in 2019-20 with PhiladelphiaCareer earnings: $276,450,726
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures
Share of his groups’ payroll: 17.18 percentBiggest share: 26.45 % in 2007-08 with Golden StateCareer earnings: $147,692,983
