We frequently discuss overpaid players, illogical contracts, incomprehensible rules, and ad hoc exceptions. The equally absurd clauses contained within them receive less attention. Let's take a look at the ten most incredible moments in NBA history.
1. Larry Hughes
Photo: nydailynews
The Missouri guard was given a clause that does not appear to be special in and of itself. If the team on which he would have played in the 2009-10 season had more than 55 victories, he would have received a fee of just over a million and a half dollars.
Only four teams in the NBA finished the season with a win total of 55 or more, and Hughes was traded from Chicago to New York just before the trade deadline. If Larry had a chance with the first team to reach the predetermined number of victories, he found himself in a rather disastrous situation with the Knicks.
2. Luke Ridnour
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Few will recall Luke Ridnour's exploits, but many will recall his involvement in four trades in six days. Aside from his unusual track record, the Idaho playmaker, who retired several years ago, is also known for a bizarre clause.
Ridnour was promised a million and a half dollars if he won the Defensive Player of the Year award during his time with the Seattle SuperSonics (the team that selected him in the 2003 draft).
Given his stellar performance at the University of Oregon, the Emerald City franchise's executives may have committed the "slightly" sin of optimism (since Luke will not win an individual award in his career).
3. Baron Davis
Photo: sportscasting
The Baron managed to grab a $ 65 million contract over five years from the Clippers, who were still stuck in the dramatic pre-Chris Paul phase. In addition to the large sum of money, Davis was guaranteed a one-million-dollar bonus if he plays in more than 70 games and the Clippers win at least 30 of them.
Baron Davis played the beauty of 75 games at the end of the unsuccessful season in question (2009-10) When he's ready to celebrate his extra million, he noticed the crime: the Clippers finished the season with a 29-53 record, one win short of the required total. So close!
4. Tony Battie
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Despite finding himself on one of the worst teams in history as a result of a trade, the Texas Tech center had reason to smile. Tony Battie could have hoped for a series of bonuses in addition to his $ 6 million base annual contract, which would have made him happier after his disastrous time with the New Jersey Nets.
His contract stipulated that he would receive $100,000 if he played at least 50 games with an average of at least 8 rebounds per game, another $100,000 if he made at least 5 free throws per game and another $100,000 if the Nets qualified for the playoffs after playing the 50 games.
Instead, Tony was cruelly "benched" for the majority of the season, appearing in only 15 games (with Boone and Brook Lopez in front of him in the rotations) and averaging a dismal one and a half rebounds per game. For a fifth-round pick in the draft, a little bit. To top it off, the Nets had the fifth-worst regular-season record in NBA history (10-72).
5. Glen Davis
Photo: si
Glen Davis' weight issues are well-known, to the point where the Celtics felt compelled to protect themselves in the best possible way by including a series of "ideal weight" goals in the contract, which the Baton Rouge center should have adhered to throughout the season.
Passing them all would have put half a million dollars in his pocket and saved Boston a lot of time and effort. Sometimes all you need are "small" motivations to stick to a diet.
6. Matt Bonner
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A contract clause can sometimes appear to be more of a gamble than a genuine incentive. During the 2010-11 season, the San Antonio Spurs guaranteed Matt Bonner a whopping $ 100,000 if his three percentages, free throws, and field goal percentages combined for a total of 169.
He only managed to reach 157 percent by the end of the year. However, it's a fun challenge for a player who, despite not being the protagonist, has become a Texan franchise icon (from which he recently separated after ten long years).
7. Nick Collison
Photo: nba
Nick Collison was practically an institution in Oklahoma City, so much so that he included a very, very special clause in his contract. After a life in Seattle and then Oklahoma, first with the SuperSonics and then with the transferred Thunder, Nick Collison was practically an institution in Oklahoma City, so much so that he included a very, very special clause in his contract.
If Nick won nothing but the Most Valuable Player award, the franchise was prepared to pull out $ 100,000 and hand it over to him.
8. Michael Jordan
Photo: Michael Jordan (via Getty Images)
The " Love-of-the-Game Clause " was a concession made by Jerry Krause, the Bulls' then-GM, to the only player on his roster at the time: Michael Jordan.
Under the terms of the contract, MJ could play in any friendly match, unofficial match, or even just play in the park at any time. When we talk about Jordan, we're talking about a passion for sports, and we're talking about sports in their purest form.
9. Mario Chalmers
Photo: bealestreetbears
There are still weight issues and clauses relating to the number on the scale. Given Mario Chalmers' proclivity for gaining weight, the Heat inserted a clause in his contract that provided for a monetary payment of 20,000 dollars to the Alaskan guard if he showed up at the summer league or any team physical reconditioning program to maintain a healthy weight.
According to the terms of the clause, "showing up" was sufficient. Mario's attempt was important to the Heat.
10. Adonal Foyle
Photo: syracuse
Adonal Foyle is a modest naturalized American Valentine's Day role-player who was selected in the eighth round of the 1997 NBA Draft by Golden State. Foyle had an 11-year NBA career, averaging 6 points and 7 rebounds in his time with the Bay Area, Orlando, and Memphis.
Despite a lackluster career, the Warriors management inserted two clauses into his 42 million contract over six years: $ 500,000 in the event of MVP victory, and another $ 500,000 for the MVP of the Finals. It's a bit ambitious for a player selected before Tracy McGrady and unable to lead the Warriors to the playoffs during one of the team's darkest decades.
