As one of the few college basketball programs with at least 10 active alumni in the NBA, Gonzaga men's basketball has proven itself as a viable path to the next level under the tutelage of Mark Few and his coaching staff.
Not only are former Bulldogs getting drafted in the first round (nine in the past eight years), but their ability to adapt to the NBA has earned many players lucrative contracts following their rookie deals.
According to NBA experts from Fadeaway World, Gonzaga has produced the third-most highest-earning NBA players in the league with five of the top 150 highest-paid players being former Zags. Only Duke (13) and Kentucky (12) have more players in the top 150 while UCLA (five) had just as many as Gonzaga. The study accounted for which players had the biggest salary cap hit as of the 2023-24 season.
Sacramento Kings All-NBA forward Domantas Sabonis has the biggest cap hit of former Gonzaga players at $30.6 million in 2023-24, the 44th-highest in the NBA. Sabonis earned a five-year, $217 million contract extension last offseason and will pocket an annual average of $43.4 million through the 2027-28 season.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura cracked the top 100 with a $15.7 million cap hit after he inked a three-year, $51 million contract in free agency last summer. Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has a $12.5 million cap hit this season, the 116th-highest in the NBA, while 11-year-veteran Kelly Olynyk has a $12.1 million cap hit. Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is also already in the top 150 as a former No. 2 overall pick, as the 7-footer has a $10.3 million cap hit.
The study found that the average cap hit of past Gonzaga players is $16.2 million. According to Spotrac, Gonzaga is one of 10 colleges with at least 10 active NBA players. Of those 10 former Bulldogs, six weren't considered top 25 recruits by 247Sports composite — a true testament to the developmental approach by Few and the staff.
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