OKC Thunder rank third in average annual salaries

The OKC Thunder place third behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in highest average annual salaries among all professional sports franchises.

With a historically top-heavy roster, it’s no surprise the OKC Thunder pays, on average, more in player salaries than any other team in the league. But to be third in all of sports is a bit eye-opening.

In Kevin Durant’s final year, the Thunder owed the departing superstar just over $20 million, along with a pair of $16 million contracts to Russell Westbrook and Enes Kanter. The trio combined for $53.3 million of the total $93.7 million in total player’s salaries.

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Since then, Thunder GM Sam Presti has spared no expense in acquiring more talent. Durant left  Presti up the stream without a paddle prior to the 2016-17 season, but he did commit Andre Roberson to three years at $30 million before pushing all in on the “OK3” the following year, spiking the payroll to $43.3 million.

In addition to re-signing Westbrook for $205 million and Steven Adams for $100, Presti also traded for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony just before the start of the season. Together, they accounted for over $45.5 million to increase the total payroll $134.5 million.

Most recently, the salaries increased to $146.46 million largely due to signing George to a $137 deal and Jerami Grant to $27.3 three-year deal.

Other than paying Kyle Singler just under $1 million for the next five years, there really isn’t much to complain about. If we’re being nit-picky, Alex Abrines and Patrick Patterson are probably a bit overpaid at $5.5 million each, but it’s not the end of the world.

Both of those players played relatively significant roles in the past and it’s not a bad thing to have them when needed.

For anyone getting upset at those contracts, just remember that we acquired Nerlens Noel for a steal at under $2 million and we’re benefiting from Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo producing above their rookie contracts.

Even with the richest payroll in the league, the OKC Thunder are still clear underdogs.

Our fearless leader Westbrook has embraced the underdog mentality with his “Why Not?” slogan and aggressive style of play.

But with the Warriors experiencing some drama, the Rockets floundering early and the eastern conference still finding an identity, it could be the Thunder’s time to make a run at the championship.