Confirmed! The signing was reached, which is 2.25 million more expensive than Doncic. Compared with the Spurs, the Lakers are the winners.

Editor|Old Kankanqiu

This offseason, the NBA League has given birth to many super maximum salary contracts of 100 million yuan. In addition to the four-year, 285 million-year and 239 million-year max contracts that were given to Alexander, the Thunder have reached 5-year, 289 million-year and 239 million-year max contracts with Javier and Chet this summer. After the three-person contract takes effect, it will become the most expensive 'Big Three' combination in NBA history; in addition, after the Suns rebuilt, 145 million-year contract extensions with Booker in advance, the Knicks also gave Butchris a four-year, 150 million-year contract extension contract, the Magic and Ben Keiro signed a five-year max contract with up to 287 million-year max contracts, etc. With the effectiveness of the league's new broadcast contract (76 billion-year in 2011), the NBA has entered the era of salary explosion.

And by next summer, wage increases will be even more obvious. Antetokounmpo and Jokic can sign a super maximum salary of 293 million for four years. If they wait until 27 years to sign a renewal contract, the amount will be even more than imagined. Doncic, who has just signed a three-year, 165 million contract with the Lakers, will be eligible to sign a five-year, 418 million super maximum salary in the 2028 offseason. It has to be said that many young stars are lucky enough to have the salary dividends of this era.

01 The Spurs' gamble: Fox's sky-high contract and salary dilemma

Recently, the NBA free market has exploded again in signing. According to the latest report by US media ESPN famous reporter Shams, the San Antonio Spurs reached a four-year, $229 million maximum salary renewal contract with starting point guard Dalong Fox.

Super, Shams added contract details: 51 million in the

26-27 season; 55.1 million in the

27-28 season; 59.2 million in the

28-29 season; 63.3 million in the

29-30 season; 57.25 million in the

, and no player option or team option.

So far, Fox's contract renewal set a record in the Spurs' history, becoming the team's first "two million yuan gentleman", and the previous record holder Vassel's five-year record of $146 million. The 27-year-old point guard has no doubt. Former NBA player Shampoo once praised: "Since John Wall, I am sure that Fox is the fastest player in the NBA. He is like carrying two jets!"

However, this signing also hides a lot of risks. After joining the Spurs, Fox played only 17 games due to injury, averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, and his three-point shooting percentage fell to 27.4%. Compared with the Kings' average of 25 points, 5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 32.2% three-point shooting percentage, the performance has dropped significantly.

The bigger crisis is still ahead. The team's top pick, Wenban Yama, will expire in 2026, and he will be eligible to sign a super maximum salary of $326 million in five years. If Wenban signs successfully, his annual salary will reach US$122 million in the 2026-27 season.

Based on the average annual increase of about 10% for the NBA salary cap, the salary cap in the 2026-27 season may be around US$180 million. This means that the salary of two people alone accounts for more than 67% of the team, and the space for strengthening is severely squeezed.

02 Lakers' chess game: Doncic's cost-effectiveness and future space

When the Spurs paid a record contract for Fox, the Lakers signed Doncic for only 165 million in three years, which was a big winner. The 25-year-old super giant still maintains dominance after joining the Lakers: averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists per game in the regular season, and the average number of the playoffs increased to 30.2 points, 7 rebounds, 5.8 assists.

What is even more commendable is that the structural design of this contract is a masterpiece:

26-27 season: 51 million US dollars

27-28 season: 55.1 million US dollars

28-29 season: 59.2 million US dollars (player option)

retains the flexibility of future salary with short-term contracts. By the summer of 2027, the Lakers' salary space will be fully released, just in time for the "Big Fish Year" of the free market - two MVP-level stars Antetokounmpo and Jokic may enter the free market.

In this way, Doncic and the Lakers achieve a win-win situation: Doncic locks in future returns (the first five-year, $417 million super contract in NBA history), while the Lakers retain long-term operation space.

03 Spurs and Lakers: Who is the winner?

Fox's average salary is as high as $57.25 million, which is 2.25 million more than Doncic's average salary of 55 million, but the cost-effectiveness of the two is completely opposite:

Fox: 27 years old, 44.6% shooting percentage + 27.4% three-point shooting percentage;

Doncic: 25 years old, 43.8% shooting percentage + 37.9% three-point shooting percentage;

Doncic, who has the advantage of age, efficiency and business value, has received a lower average salary.

It is obvious that when the Spurs were locked in their salary space by two super contracts, the Lakers have quietly made plans for the free market in 2027. When the Spurs bet on the future for Fox's 229 million, the Lakers quietly completed the perfect balance between salary space and championship window with a seemingly "ordinary" 165 million contract.