MICHAEL FINLEY CONTRACTS: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE YEARS

Introduction

Michael Finley, born on March 6, 1973, is a retired American professional basketball player who had a successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) spanning over 16 seasons. He played for five different teams during his career, and his performance and loyalty to the sport lead to him signing various contracts worth millions of dollars. This article takes a look at Michael Finlay's lucrative contracts throughout his career.

Contracts in the Early Years

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Finley was picked by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA Draft in 1995. His initial contract was worth $3.9 million, with an average annual salary of $1.2 million. In just his second year, Finley showed his potential by averaging 15.0 points per game, which led to him signing a $23.5 million, 5-year deal with the Suns. In his final year with Phoenix, he agreed to a 7-year, $100 million contract extension, which was the most expensive contract in the NBA at the time.

Contracts with the Dallas Mavericks

In 1998, Finley was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Jason Kidd, as he embarked on a new journey with his new team. His first contract with the Mavericks was a 6-year deal worth $52.6 million and was known to be one of the most significant contracts in Mavericks' history. In 2004, he agreed to extend his current contract by 5 years, making it worth $51.8 million. This was considered a wise investment, as Finley played a vital role in the Mavericks' success, which included the 2006 NBA Finals.

Contracts with the San Antonio Spurs

After his time with the Mavericks came to an end, Finley signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. He later on signed an extension with the Spurs, adding two more seasons with a contract worth $2.5 million. In his last season with the Spurs, Finley helped them advance to the 2007 NBA Finals, where they partially lost against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Conclusion

Throughout his NBA career, Michael Finley earned an approximate sum of $117 million from his contracts with various NBA teams. He retired in 2010 with a stat line of 17.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the regular season and 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the playoffs. His dream of playing in the NBA led to him signing various contracts worth millions of dollars, and he repaid each team's trust in his talent by always giving his best shot on the court.