Not too long back, there was a popular debate in the basketball world on which would you rather have a career like Robert Horry’s or James Harden’s? Horry won seven championships but his career earnings were around $54 million while Harden hasn’t won a ring but has earned over $300 million, and former NBA player Rasheed Wallace would go with the former.
“Guys play in it for different reasons,” Wallace said. “I have played with guys who didn’t care about winning the championship but they rather get paid, but overall, you going to get paid when you win.”
The 49-year-old Wallace believes when you get that tag of a winning player, the money follows.
“The money comes with the rings though,” Wallace continued. “Now mind you, you might not get $200 million but with that ring s***, you could get like 100-something million.”
When told by his co-hosts that the amount isn’t over $100 million but $56 million, Wallace said he would take it.
“I would take the 56 and seven,” Wallace replied.
A co-host then mentioned that Horry had to play forever to even make that much, and Wallace explained that players just weren’t paid a lot when he was drafted.
“When he first came into the league, it was the small minimal contracts,” Wallace said. “A lot of people don’t recognize or realize f***ing Michael Jordan never had no big a** NBA contract until the end. Same thing with Magic Johnson. I think Magic Johnson signed at what 10 years, $25 million?”
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Magic Johnson signed a 25-year, $25 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time, it was a lot of money, but this obviously would be nothing compared to what players earn today. Even Michael Jordan didn’t earn more than $5 million in a season before his final two campaigns with the Chicago Bulls, where he earned over $30 million on average.
With how NBA salaries are now, a player like Horry probably would earn over $100 million over his career. He was a fine role player, who was known for hitting big shots and if someone like that plays long enough, they would earn a fair bit.
So, which one would you take? Wallace made it clear which one he’d want and I tend to agree. You play to win and while no one ever has enough money, I would say $56 million or $100 million is plenty enough.
As for Wallace himself, he ended up earning just over $150 million in his career and won a championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons.
Gilbert Arenas Prefers $300 Million Over The Rings
This debate really started on Gil’s Arena, with Gilbert Arenas posing that question. Arenas said he would take $300 million over $54 million and seven rings.
“James Harden, $300 million… no ring, or would you take Robert Horry, $56 million with six rings? Seven championships, and he made $54 million which clearly tells you he was never a main guy. Like Steph, his money matches his winning as the main player, right, so just because you have five rings and you won, you didn’t win off the back of you.”
It is true that Horry was not the driving force in those seven title-winning teams, but he sure played a role in them and you can’t take that away from him.
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