Larry Bird comments on the massive financial growth in the NBA

Modern-day NBA has come a long way in establishing the global influence and reach it has today. This is the result of long development, investment and players who, with their skills, leave fans in awe on a nightly basis.

This turn of events has allowed the Association, as well as the franchises themselves, to have more money than ever before, which is reflected in the astronomical contracts even average role players have. However, this was not always the case.

The money has come a long way

Almost 80 years ago, in 1946, in the first official season of the league under the name Basketball Association of America, which later became the NBA as we know it, the salary cap was $55K. Sure, it was a different time back then, and the relative cost of living was also much lower, but if we look at the 2024-25 season, when the salary cap is more than a whopping $140M, this $55K seems like pocket money.

One of those who gave his two cents about this surge in the amount of money that stars in the Association are getting is Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird.

"I'd be lying if I told you I thought it would get to this point. I never thought that. I'm happy it has. That means the league's doing well, the owners are doing well, the players are doing well. That's what it was all about. But you got to remember, when I came into the league, the guys before me were bitchin' about how much money I made. So it just goes down the line, so that's how it works," the Hall of Famer said in an interview with ESPN.

Bird was the top-paid rookie

When he entered the league, Bird was given a five-year, $3.25M deal and with that, he became the highest-paid rookie not only in the history of the NBA but also in sports in general. Given that he was still unproven on the biggest stage, it is clear how some before him were bitter about the size of the bag that "The Hick from French Lick" secured.

Although with a big contract and a big chip on his shoulder, Larry feared no one, and wanted to prove that he deserved this kind of money. He handled the pressure with the utmost confidence and became probably the greatest Celtic in history.

It seems that there has always been talk and envy from players, regardless of the amount of money involved. However, it must be said that Bird and many stars in that same rank deserve every bit of it. 

Some others (e.g., Ben Simmons)? That's a story for another day.