Is it possible for Chet Holmgren to make one billion dollars in the NBA?
According to Spotrac.com, the top four college basketball programs in terms of combined NBA earnings from their alumni are Kentucky, Duke, Cal, and Gonzaga.
The total earnings of the 10 (and soon to be more) active Gonzaga players in the NBA have surpassed $128 million. This includes Andrew Nembhard’s recent three-year, $59 million extension with the Indiana Pacers in late July. Sacramento Kings All-NBA forward Domantas Sabonis is set to earn $40.5 million in the 2024-25 season, while Brandon Clarke will be midway through a four-year, $52 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies by season’s end. Kelly Olynyk also signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Toronto Raptors in March.
Nembhard became the latest Zag to secure a significant second NBA contract, and he is unlikely to be the last.
“The NBA contracts are skyrocketing due to the recent collective bargaining agreement and a new media rights deal that was finalized after a year of negotiations,” said former Gonzaga All-American Dan Dickau.
Dickau was referring to an 11-year contract with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video that will generate about $76 billion for the league, expected to increase the salary cap by 10% annually for the remainder of the collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season.
This trend suggests many former Zags might secure lucrative deals soon. Among them, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2022 second overall pick who had a standout rookie season, is seen as having the highest earning potential.
“Chet Holmgren could potentially make a billion dollars from basketball,” Dickau said. “He’s either going to secure a max contract or be slightly below that. If he meets key performance benchmarks like All-NBA selections and all-star appearances when his rookie deal expires, he could command a significant share of the salary cap and various bonuses. I’m confident he has the potential to earn that kind of money.”
Dickau also discussed how Gonzaga’s successful NBA alumni positively impact recruiting, shared his views on Mark Few and Team USA in the Paris Games, and more, in the latest episode of Gonzaga Nation.
