Basketball is a popular sport in Australia, with the sport’s popularity growing significantly over the past decades. As such, a few stars have risen to the highest ranks and earned a mind-blowing salary coupled up with lucrative endorsements.
From the National Basketball League (NBL) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) to college basketball tournaments, the sport has an audience in all of Australia. Basketball has not only attracted fans but also sports bettors.
For those who are lucky with predictions or experts at analysing basketball matches, the best online NBA betting sites offer many betting options. Whether it’s the regular season or playoffs, there are several bet types like point spreads, moneylines, and futures, which you can place.
As one of the most famous sports, it goes without saying that professional basketball players make a good living. While most focus on American players, it’s no different for Australian basketballers. The country has produced some of the world’s most decorated and wealthy players and here are some of them.
Andrew Bogut
Retired former Golden State Warriors professional hooper Andrew Bogut is the first on the list. After a 15-year-long career that stretched from 2005 to 2020, Bogut managed to rack up $117 million, making him the wealthiest Australian basketballer.
His net worth is, however, approximated at $24 million by Celebrity Net Worth. At the peak of his career, Andrew would earn a substantial annual salary of almost $13 million, a well-deserved sum for his athletic prowess.
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons has been a common household name in recent years, scooping up fans with his incredible skills. Ben is currently one of the most talented and highest-paid rookies in the game. He started with a rookie contract at the Philadelphia 76ers, after which he moved to the Philadelphia Sixers, where he was offered a handsome salary.
Currently, he plays for the Brooklyn Nets for a whopping $33 million annual salary. If you thought that was a lot, Ben has also managed to snag some impressive endorsements from Nike, Beats by Dre, Upper Deck and Footlocker, where he earns over $15 million. The future couldn’t seem brighter for the 26-year-old, as more opportunities are expected to come his way.
Matthew Dellavedova
Matthew Dellavedova has been in the game for quite a while, jumpstarting his basketball career in 2007. In the long run, he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks. At the Milwaukee Bucks, his annual salary was $9.6 million, while at the Cleveland Cavaliers, it peaked at $9.6 million and dropped to $2.1 million. Dellavedova has amassed an astounding $43 million gross income throughout his basketball career.
With the exception of his conventional salary, Matthew also has a 3-year endorsement with the Chinese company Peak Sport. Peak has even planned to release the Delly 1 shoe, a signature sports shoe to celebrate Matthew.
Patty Mills
Patty Mills is an Australian-born and raised professional basketballer who plays for the Brooklyn Nets. In the 14 years he’s been on the court, he has made quite a name for himself, helping the San Antonio Spurs and the Australian Boomers win the 2014 NBA Championship and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, respectively.
The 34-year-old has a heavy pocket complementing his stellar basketball career. At the San Antonio Spurs, he made a peak annual salary of $13 million, and in his current team, the Brooklyn Nets, he’s on a two-year $12 million contract. Throughout his career, he’s managed to gross up $67.9 million from basketball alone.
Joe Ingles
Having started his pro career in Australia, Ingles played for several teams in the NBL before moving to Spain to play for FC Barcelona. Since then, he’s played for several big-name teams, including Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks, where he’s currently playing. He’s a pretty impressive player, fetching several accolades, including the Gaze Medal and the NBL Rookie of the Year back in 2007.
Currently, he’s on a $6.47 million contract with Milwaukee Bucks for the 2022/23 season. However, he’s made bigger figures in the Portland Trail Blazers, where he was on a $13 million contract for the 2021/22 season.
