When it comes to college sports, the NBA and NFL often steal the spotlight. They dominate the headlines, bringing in massive TV ratings and offering young athletes more exposure and faster paths to stardom. In contrast, MLB doesn’t quite generate the same hype, especially at the college level. But when it comes to money, baseball still makes its mark. Take Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, for example!
Well, Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, two MLB stars currently hold the richest contracts in American sports history, worth $765 million and $700 million, respectively. But the elusive $1 billion mark? That’s still miles away, at least for now. Enter Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, expected to be landed by the Dallas Mavericks. Rumors are rife that he could be the one to break that billion-dollar barrier or at least get close to it.
Now, if you are not familiar with Flagg’s name, no worries, we’ve got you covered. Flagg is yet to enter the NBA scene. But according to Spotrac, he could end up raking in a jaw-dropping $930 million from NBA contracts alone by the time he turns 31. That would make him the closest anyone in North American sports has ever come to hitting the $1 billion mark in on-field earnings, topping even the biggest names from MLB, the NFL, and the NBA.
As per Spotrac’s projection, Flagg will reportedly sign a four-year rookie deal worth $62.7 million. If he lives up to expectations and qualifies for a supermax extension, his second contract could jump to a massive five-year, $359 million deal. And if he keeps elevating his performance for another five years and earns another round of supermax extension, his third contract would be worth $509 million.
So, with all this adding up, Flagg has the potential to earn up to $930 million in NBA salary alone by the end of the 2037-38 season. Interestingly, he’ll still be just 31 years old at that time. But is it not too bold to bet so much on a rookie here? Well, these are only projected numbers, but Flagg has showcased immense talent at the college level, that’s for sure.
For starters, in his one season with the Duke, he put up impressive numbers, 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, along with 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. That too, while shooting 48.1% from the floor and 38.5% from beyond the arc. Now, which player recorded these figures last?
But, while the projected $930 million figure for Flagg is higher than the current contracts of Ohtani and Soto, is it possible that the two MLB stars get better deals in the future?
Ohtani and Soto might not repeat the same numbers
We don’t know how Soto and Ohtani will perform in the next few years. But there’s a good chance that their existing contracts could end up being their final major deals. Why?
Well, Ohtani still has 8 years left before hitting free agency. Currently, he is 30 and will be 38 by the time he hits free agency again. There is not much of a possibility of a 38-year-old landing the richest deal in MLB. Soto’s deal, on the other hand, runs until he’s 41. If he doesn’t opt out mid-way through, he’s set to finish his career with around $847.3 million in total earnings.
So, even if Ohtani and Soto play until their early 40s, it’s highly unlikely that they will land a better deal in the future. But several other names in MLB could be in the race to $1 billion mark. Among the sluggers, who traditionally fetch better deals than the pitchers, Kyle Tucker can make things hot. However, his projected contract in the coming trading window is around $600 million. That’s way below Flagg’s projected numbers. A couple of others might be in contention as well, including the Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Who do you think will be the first North American athlete to earn $1B in contracts?
The post Cooper Flagg Predicted to Surpass Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani With Unprecedented U.S. Sports Feat appeared first on EssentiallySports.