Source: Derrick Rose agreed to a 14-year, $260 (million) deal with adidas.
— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) February 25, 2012
That’s CSN Chicago’s Aggrey Sam with news on Derrick Rose’s new deal, which Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski followed up on. Woj reported late Friday night that the deal features a guaranteed $185 million over 13 years, and incentives are what pushes it over the top into that $200-plus range.
You know, in case you think that Rose isn’t really making all that much with the $185 million. Don’t worry yourselves, he won’t starve.
My first thought when I saw this, and thinking about how much money that is, was to vomit and wonder what I’ve been doing with my life. Second thought was to wonder for those with deals that are even a fraction of this deal’s, why those players still demand max contracts. If you’re already taken care of, why not sacrifice to make sure the team can build around you which will make you win more and have your popularity go even higher so you can get even more money? Rose’s deal pays him an average of over $14 million per year. That’s nearly a max salary on its own!
The answer is complicated. One, there’s never enough money, there just isn’t. You adjust to your means and will always feel like you need more to cover the upgrades you give your life. It’s just how people work. Two, agents drive these deals, and Rose’s just hit the jackpot. And three, it’s a status consideration. Rose is a max player, with a massive endorsement deal. It’s a reflection of where he stands in the NBA, business wise.
And really, versus his MVP which was bitterly divided among people that don’t just watch highlight clips, you have to just feel good for the kid. This was a situation where a kid comes out of one of the worst neighborhoods, builds his way up, and makes enough money to never have to worry himself or his family ever again (provided he doesn’t go “Brewster’s Millions” on it, which Rose doesn’t seem like the type to do). He was born with a gift, he worked his face off, and he’s made it to the very top financially. That’s America. This is where those things happen. For all the faults with our society, our government, our culture, our people, this is genuinely something good. We think of athlete money as money for jewelry and cars. (And Rose will spend it on those, too; he’s 23, what would you do with $14 million when you were 23?) But his entire family is set for life. His grandkids, should he choose to have them, will be set.
The money is ridiculous, and it is ridiculously awesome. He may not need all of it, but he’s earned it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go try and find some blogger endorsements.