Devin Booker is set for a secure future, with a massive $70 million salary over the next two years—making him the record holder for the highest annual extension salary in NBA history. But Charles Barkley didn’t seem entirely thrilled about the Suns star’s new deal.
“$70 million a year… to dribble a ***** basketball,” Barkley began in classic fashion. But he also added, “God bless these guys,” recalling a time in his own career when he was making more than legends like Dr. J (Julius Erving) and Bill Russell.
To Barkley, players like Booker should be smiling all the time with paychecks like that. “…but these guys? They should be in a good mood 24/7.” With the extension, Booker now holds the highest salary among all Suns players.
What was Barkley’s highest salary as a player?
According to Spotrac, his final NBA paycheck was the largest of his playing career—$9 million for one season with the Houston Rockets in 1999. Just a year earlier, he had made only $1 million. His biggest contract overall was a five-year deal worth $18.98 million.
Charles Barkley playing with the Sixers in 1984.
Had Barkley played deeper into the 21st century, he likely would’ve earned far more. But by the 1999 season, he was already 36 years old and in one of his final three seasons—well past his MVP-contending days.
Barkley does just fine as a broadcaster
Despite his remarks about the sky-high salaries of today’s NBA stars, Barkley reportedly earns $21 million per year as an analyst. Yahoo! Sports and Front Office Sports noted that his 10-year, $210 million contract with TNT was signed in 2022.
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