Photo credit should read BOB STRONG/AFP via Getty Images The highest earners may come as a surprise I came across this study, which I found interesting. The concept compared rookie salaries of players before 2014 — some way before — to determine how their rookie salary translates in today’s market, or as the surveyor put it, “What if the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James were being drafted in 2024, what could they be earning as newcomers in present day?” Their methodology- This dataset contains 2 rankings, one for the top 3 draft pick players since 1979, and one for NBA stars from the 80s, 90s & 00s, based on their debut season salaries. To do this, we collected the debut salaries for all players. Then, for the NBA stars ranking, we converted the salaries into a modern-day figure using the percentage change of the average salaries for the top 3 draft picks, per year. The players were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their salaries. By analyzing the rookie salaries, the VegasInsider study revealed inflation causes the following: Hakeem Olajuwon, a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets, would be the highest-earning rookie in modern day with a $15,290,561 debut salary. Olajuwon would have earned 1,860% more from his first contract in 1984 if he was coming through the draft today. New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was a close second with his $1,250,000 rookie salary calculated as $15,075,427 if he was drafted in 2024. Making up the top three is arguably one of the most dominant players the game has ever seen with Shaquille O’Neal estimated to earn $13,565,472 from his first contract. Yao Ming and Kyrie Irving made up the top five with both players estimated to earn over $12.5 million from their first-year contracts. Our own San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan would be predicted to earn over $12,500,000, just a smidge below Ming and Irving putting him in the sixth spot, if he was drafted in 2024. Michael Jordan ranks 12th, although his original $550,000 becomes $10,781,806 if he had indeed been drafted this season. See a full breakdown of the study HERE. Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here. Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.