The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of its latest rebuild after they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for as many as five first-round picks and three players. With the Las Vegas Summer League in the rearview mirror, it’s time to remember some of the highest-paid players in Brooklyn’s franchise history.
Per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Alberto De Roa, the highest-paid player in Nets history is forward Kevin Durant. In the article released by the duo, Durant earned over $148 million during his team with Brooklyn as part of the four-year, $164 million deal that he signed in July 2019 as a member of the Golden State Warriors to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Nets to bring him to Brooklyn.
Durant signed a four-year, $194 million extension with the Nets in August 2021 and that is currently the contract that he is playing on as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Despite Durant being paid at least $37 million in every one of his seasons in a Nets uniform, he had his best years in Brooklyn as he averaged 29.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 53.5% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range.
As far as guard Kyrie Irving, Durant’s running mate during those years in Brooklyn, the former Duke Blue Devil is now known as the second highest-paid player in Nets history as he earned over $125 million during his time in Brooklyn.
Irving came to the Nets in July 2019 after signing a four-year, $136.5 million contract in free-agency and he remained with the team until the 2022-23 campaign when he requested to be traded after being unable to find common ground with the Nets on a contract extension. Irving earned at least $31 million in each year that he donned a Nets uniform and like Durant, he also had his best years in Brooklyn.
Irving averaged 27.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48.9% from the floor and 39.6% from deep during his time with the Nets.
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