Now Valued at $50 Million, Jerry West “The Logo” Didn’t Even Earn $100,000 Annually During His Lakers Days

Jerry West, one of the true legends of basketball and especially the NBA, has bid farewell to the world at the age of 86. While the basketball buffs are busy looking back into his legacy, let’s see how much Jerry West would have earned in the modern NBA. Keeping in mind the unique records he holds, anyone would assume that he was one of the highest-paid in the league back then. And as the logo man, with a $50 million net worth now, that would make a lot of sense too. However, that is not the case here at all. 

West, during his time for the Los Angeles Lakers, was an All-Star 14 times, and he made it to the All-Star team all fourteen seasons he played in the NBA. He has made it to the All-NBA team twelve times, of which ten are first selections. If someone had a record like this in the modern NBA, he would probably be the highest-paid. Yet, for West, it was totally different. 

The highest that West earned in one season was just $90,000. You may question the inflation and the money this converts into in the modern era. Well, here is a surprising revelation. As per reports, it would still be just $484,464.44. So, it’s indeed safe to say that West was underpaid. Anyhow, the market of the NBA today is vast. It has a global reach now with numerous partnerships. 

Also, this would be the perfect time to compare, to find out where West’s contract would stand in today’s NBA. Let’s take a look. 

Would Jerry West be the lowest-paid NBA player for the 2023-24 season? 

The rookies in the NBA today are millionaires. But coming back to the lowest-paid player in the NBA, it is none other than Gui Santos, who was the 55th pick for the Golden State Warriors in the 2023 NBA draft. The 6’6 forward played 23 games in his first season for the Dub Nation and averaged 3.6 points. How much did he earn? 

According to reports, he signed a $1.03 million, with no guarantee for the 23-24 season. Let’s not forget that he earned this money in his rookie season and as the 55th pick for the Warriors, coming from Brazil. Does this convey that West and the other stars in the NBA were underpaid back then?

Santos’s contract shows us how much the NBA’s market has grown in the last five decades. If West played in the league today, he would have easily made a few million. In fact, the Los Angeles Lakers made a few million later in the NBA, not as a player, but as an executive. 

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video: