Devin Booker just made NBA history — not with a buzzer-beater or a championship, but with the stroke of a pen.
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a historic contract extension with the four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA guard and two-time Olympic gold medalist: a two-year, $145 million maximum deal that locks him in through the 2029–30 season.
That translates to approximately $72.5 million per year, the highest average annual salary in NBA history, surpassing even OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s previous record of $71.3 million.
To put that in perspective for Floridians: Booker will earn more next season than the entire Miami Marlins payroll, which covers all 40 players.
The MLB remains the only major American pro sports league without any form of a salary cap. Yet the Marlins’ payroll in 2025 sits at an estimated $67.5 million, nearly $5 million less than Booker’s annual salary among the lowest of any team in the league.
The average MLB team payroll in 2025 hovers around $150 million, with teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets projected to spend over $250 million this season.
The Marlins aren’t just behind the curve — they’re operating on an entirely different financial planet.
Currently, Miami holds a 42–49 record, hovering below a .500 winning percentage and trailing their division rivals, sitting third overall in the National League East.
The Marlins made a surprise playoff appearance in 2023, but with their highest-paid player Sandy Alcantara rumored to be on the trading block, that could signal a continued retreat from serious contention — at least in terms of putting the money where their mouth is.