Phoenix Suns Sign Chris Paul to 4 Year Contract Worth $120 Million
Introduction
On Monday, August 2nd, 2021 the Phoenix Suns proudly announced that they have agreed to terms with their superstar point guard Chris Paul and his two agents Steve Heumann and Ty Sullivan to sign a 4 – year contract worth up to approximately $120 million. Earlier during the 2021 offseason of the National Basketball Association Paul decided to decline his $44 million player option for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 NBA season in hopes of signing a longer – term deal which he has now finalized with the Phoenix Suns.
New Contract Details
This new four – year deal valued at around $120 million is a back loaded contract which means that Paul will continuously get paid more per year which gradually increases throughout the life of the 4 – year contractual agreement. Chris will earn an average annual base salary of $30 million from 2021 to 2025. For the upcoming 2021 – 2022 NBA season Paul will pull in $26,785,714, for the 2022 – 2023 NBA season Paul will earn $28,928,571, for the 2023 – 2024 season of the National Basketball Association Chris will make $31, 071,429, and finally for the 2024 – 2025 NBA season Chris will get paid $33,214,286. So far during his 17 – year NBA career (including the 2021 – 2022 NBA season) Paul has earned approximately $326,695,133 which makes his a very wealthy man.
This new contract does not seem to possess any type of a signing bonus, and it does not include any incentives as well. The stipulations of the deal state that for the 2023 – 2024 NBA season his contract carries 50 % of the money fully guaranteed, and the 2024 – 2025 NBA season of the agreement is a club option that the Phoenix Suns can exercise if they choose to or not if they do not want to keep Paul on the team for that last year of his new contract. Paul will once again become an unrestricted free agent in 2025 when he will be a 40 – year – old man at that point in his life. There are not too many individuals that can play at the high level of NBA basketball past their 40th birthday which means that this will most likely be the last NBA deal Paul receives throughout his illustrious basketball career.
Basketball Background of Chris Paul
The 6 – foot 0 – inch and 175 – pound tremendously – talented point guard that possesses an extremely high basketball IQ was born in Winston – Salem, North Carolina. Paul attended West Forsyth High School located in Clemmons, North Carolina where he excelled at basketball. Chris was also a spectacular football player earlier on in his life as well, but he chose to pursue basketball full – time. Chris enrolled at Wake Forest University to play his NCAA college basketball for the Demon Deacons. Following his sophomore season at Wake Forest Chris decided to hire an agent and enlist himself in the 2005 NBA Draft.
The amazing and athletic point guard out of the University of Wake Forest was selected by the then New Orleans Hornets with the 4th overall pick in the first – round of the 2005 NBA Draft. Chris played with the New Orleans Hornets from 2005 to 2011, the Los Angeles Clippers from 2011 to 2017, the Houston Rockets from 2017 to 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2019 to 2020, and now the Phoenix suns from 2020 to the present day.
Throughout the course of his star – studded career is the National Basketball Association Paul has averaged 18.3 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 9.4 assists per game, 2.1 steals per game, and 0.1 blocks per game. During the 2020 – 2021 NBA season while playing with the Phoenix Suns Chris averaged 16.4 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 8.9 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 0.3 blocks per game. Paul really knows his window for winning that elusive NBA championship is closing quickly, and especially after making it to his first NBA Finals last season he will be extremely motivated to try and attempt to make it back there and hopefully for him and the Phoenix Suns they can win their first NBA title in their over 50 – years of franchise history.
Chris Paul’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
Over the course of his 16 – season career in National Basketball Association as well as his 2 – season NCAA college basketball career at Wake Forest University playing for the Demon Deacons Paul has accomplished so very much. Chris’ basketball career achievements, honors, and awards include: 11 – time NBA All - Star in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021, NBA All - Star Game MVP in 2013, 4 – time All - NBA First Team in 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2014, 5 - time All - NBA Second Team in 2009, 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021, All - NBA Third Team in 2011, 7 - time NBA All - Defensive First Team in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, 2 - time NBA All - Defensive Second Team in 2008 and 2011, NBA Rookie of the Year back in 2006, NBA All - Rookie First Team also in 2006, 4 - time NBA assists leader in 2008, 2009, 2014, and 2015, 6 - time NBA steals leader in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Paul was a consensus First - Team All - American in 2005, First - Team All - ACC in 2005, Third - Team All - ACC in 2004, ACC Rookie of the Year all the way back in 2004, his number 3 was retired by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2004, First - Team Parade All - American in 2003, McDonald's All - American in 2003, North Carolina Mr. Basketball also way back in 2003.
Media Statements
"I think for me, I just look at myself and figure out how can I get better, what I could have done more and make sure I come back next season ready to do it again," the 16 – year NBA veteran superstar point guard Chris Paul explained to the media following his game 6 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Sources:
“Chris Paul agrees to stay with Phoenix Suns, securing four-year deal that could be worth up to $120 million, his agents say”, Adrian Wojnarowski, espn.com, August 2, 2021.
“Chris Paul”, basketball-reference.com, August 5, 2021.
“Chris Paul”, spotrac.com, August 5, 2021.
