Nigel Hayes-Davis chose to walk away from a lucrative long-term deal in Europe to pursue his NBA dream with the Phoenix Suns. Fenerbahce had made a strong offer to retain their star forward, but Hayes-Davis opted for the opportunity to return to the league.
How much are you willing to sacrifice to chase a dream? From a financial perspective, Nigel Hayes-Davis is walking away from a major contract to take his shot at the NBA.
3-pointers this season
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
EuroLeague
According to BasketNews sources, Hayes-Davis turned down a lucrative multi-year offer from Fenerbahce Istanbul to pursue his NBA goals.
Instead, the EuroLeague Final Four MVP has signed a one-year fully guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns for the NBA veteran minimum—roughly $2 million before taxes.
Per BasketNews sources, Fenerbahce had a deal on the table worth up to $9 million NET over three seasons, with the first two years guaranteed. This offer would have ranked him among the highest-paid players in the EuroLeague.
Hayes-Davis, 30, also paid $1 million to exit his Fenerbahce contract, which was set to run through 2027. He had been earning around $2M per season.
Hayes-Davis has been actively exploring a return to the NBA for several years.
After capturing the EuroLeague title, earning Final Four MVP honors, and being named to back-to-back All-EuroLeague First Teams, Hayes-Davis has decided the time is right to take the next step in his career.
He now follows a path similar to Guerschon Yabusele, who left Real Madrid last summer for a veteran minimum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
After proving his value, Yabusele signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the New York Knicks, which includes a player option for the second season.
With the current Phoenix roster, Hayes-Davis is expected to compete for playing time alongside Dillon Brooks and Royce O'Neale.
Is Nigel Hayes-Davis Going To Make It In The NBA?
Donatas Urbonas
Donatas Urbonas is an award-winning Lithuanian basketball journalist, recognized as the best sports journalist in Lithuania in 2016 and the top basketball journalist in 2018. A Vilnius University journalism graduate, Urbonas has reported on major global sports events, including the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympics, FIBA World Cups, EuroBaskets, NBA Summer League, and NBA Draft.
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