Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert is widely acknowledged as one of the premier defensive players in NBA history, excelling as an elite rim protector throughout his career.
The Denver Nuggets chose the 7-foot-1 center as the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and quickly got traded to the Utah Jazz.
Spending the first nine seasons of his career in Salt Lake City, the 31-year-old emerged as an elite defensive force, securing the NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors three times in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Additionally, he led the league in blocks in 2017 and rebounds in 2022, earning six consecutive selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team from 2017 to 2022.
Following Utah's lack of postseason success, the team underwent a significant overhaul in the summer of 2022, trading Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Jazz received a massive haul of Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, and the draft rights to center Walker Kessler, along with four first-round picks and a 2026 first-round pick swap for the Frenchman.
Let's look at Rudy Gobert's contract details, salary, and career earnings.
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Rudy Gobert Contract: $205 million
Near the end of 2020, Gobert signed a substantial five-year contract extension with the Jazz, amounting to $205 million. It is the largest deal handed to a center in NBA history.
This contract spans from the 2021-22 season through the 2025-26 season, with the final year allowing for a player option. Despite Gobert's trade to the Timberwolves in 2022, this deal remains in effect.
Before securing his current contract, the three-time NBA All-Star previously played under his first extension, valued at $102 million over four years from the 2017-18 season to the 2020-21 season. This arrangement resulted in an average annual salary of $25.5 million.
Gobert's first NBA contract was a $5.5 million deal over the first four seasons of his career from 2013-14 to 2016-17, which paid an average of $1.3 million annually.
Rudy Gobert Career Earnings
By the end of the 2023-24 NBA season, Gobert is projected to have earned $217.2 million exclusively from his NBA salary over his initial 11 seasons in the league, as reported by Spotrac.
This calculation does not include potential earnings from off-court endeavors like endorsements and partnerships. Additionally, the mentioned amount doesn't consider deductions such as taxes, agent fees, or other business-related expenses.
Looking ahead to the end of his current contract after the 2025-26 NBA season, the six-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member is anticipated to have amassed career earnings surpassing $307.6 million if he opts for the player option in the final year of his deal.
As Gobert approaches 33 during negotiations for his next contract, he will likely seek a more modest deal, considering the potential conclusion of his prime playing years.
Rudy Gobert Salary 2023-24
In the ongoing 2023-24 NBA season, Gobert is set to earn $41 million, as reported by HoopsHype. This is the first time in his career that he has surpassed the $40 million mark in single-season earnings, following his $38.1 million earnings in the 2022-23 season.
The salary also makes him the highest-paid player on the Timberwolves roster and the 13th highest-paid player in the entire NBA for the current campaign.
Looking ahead, the Frenchman's salary is anticipated to rise to $43.8 million in the 2024-25 season before reaching its peak at $46.6 million in the 2025-26 season. The latter is a player option and marks the final year of his current contract.
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