The Denver Nuggets have locked up their point guard of the future, extending Canadian point-guard Jamal Murray to a rookie maximum, five-year, $170 million dollar contract. The deal makes the Kitchener, Ont. native the highest paid Canadian athlete and basketball player of all-time.
Murray’s contract surpasses former No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins max 5-year, $147, 710, 050 million dollar deal that was signed on October 11, 2017, with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray is coming off an outstanding third-year starting 75 of 74 games, he averaged 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and had solid 2.1 turnover ratio. He shot 43.7% from the field, 36.7% from three-point range and 84.8% from the free throw line.
The 22-year-old Murray averaged 21.3 points, 4.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds in his first-ever NBA playoffs appearance.
Murray is currently on track to become Canada’s first NBA All-star since Steve Nash and tied or surpassed many of the former MVPs playoff records — including his 48-point outburst against the Boston Celtics.
Nash’s total career earnings were estimated at roughly $144, 655, 827 dollars in 19 long seasons. Murray is expected to pocket roughly $ 14, 510, 706 million in four seasons and will leapfrog Nash’s numbers in only eight seasons.