The former No. 1 overall pick found a fresh start (and a championship ring) in the Bay — take a closer look at the numbers behind the Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins contract.
It will eventually grow into one of those sneaky-good sports trivia questions: Which NBA team drafted Andrew Wiggins No. 1 overall 2014?
It’s easy to misremember the Minnesota Timberwolves — and not the Cleveland Cavaliers — as the team in question. Of course, these were the early days of LeBron James’ triumphant return to Cleveland, and he wasn’t about to spend the rest of the tippy-top of his athletic prime bringing along a young pup. Rather, the Cavaliers used the prized Kansas Jayhawk to bring in All-Star forward Kevin Love from the Twin Cities. Love won a championship with LeBron in 2016 as part of four straight NBA Finals appearances; Wiggins, meanwhile, struggled to develop into a premier performer alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and a revolving door of head coaches.
Then, another trade rolled around. Just before COVID lockdowns forced the NBA into its Orlando bubble for the business end of the 2019-20 season, Wiggins became the newest member of the Golden State Warriors.
Just two seasons later, he’d make his first All-Star team and win his first championship ring. That meant not just catharsis, but a spiffy new extension to the tune of four years and $109 million.
With that in mind, check out the finer details behind the Warriors’ expiring Andrew Wiggins contract, his subsequent four-year extension, and his career earnings to date in the NBA.
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Andrew Wiggins Contract Details & Salary
All dollar figures via Spotrac.
Current contract (through 2022-23)
Years: 5
Total value: $146,500,000
Average annual value: $29,300,000
Remaining salary under current deal:
2022-23: $32,600,060
Upcoming extension (begins 2023-24)
Years: 4 (fourth year is player option)
Total value: $109,000,000
Average annual value: $27,250,000
Free agency: 2026 or 2027
Annual contract extension salary numbers:
2023-24: $24,330,357
2024-25: $26,276,786
2025-26: $28,223,215
2026-27 player option: $30,169,644
Interestingly enough, Wiggins’ first NBA extension — a five-year deal signed with Minnesota and concluding in 2022-23 — is larger by total value, average annual value, and percentage of the salary cap than his fresh Warriors extension that kicks in starting in 2023-24. Call it the Larry O’Brien discount, as “Maple Jordan” wouldn’t have whiffed anything close to a championship in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
All told, Golden State’s financial commitments to Wiggins put him on track to reach or exceed $300 million in career on-court earnings by the time his age-32 season rolls around.
Not a bad career arc for a guy who was considered a potentially historic bust just a few short years ago.
Andrew Wiggins’ Career Earnings
Salary data via Spotrac.
NBA SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2022-23: $170,841,254
ESTIMATED SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2025-26: $279,841,256
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