The NBA’s salary cap has soared from $4.6 million in 1984-85 to a projected $154.6 million for the 2025-26 season — a staggering 3,260% increase. Amid this financial boom, two-time NBA champion Vernon Maxwell reflects on his career earnings, realizing that today’s role players earn more in a single season than he did throughout his entire tenure
Maxwell played a key role in the Houston Rockets’ back-to-back championships. Fast forward to 2025, where benchwarmers are beginning to get multi-million dollar contracts. This trend led the All The Smoke podcast to speculate what Maxwell could be earning if he played in this day and age.
A clip from the podcast surfaced on Instagram. Matt Barnes was seen asking Vernon Maxwell what kind of 5 year contract Mad Max would expect in today’s climate in the NBA. Vernon replied, “Imma be modest and sh*t, Imma say about $175/180M.” Then, when asked if that would be enough, Mad Max had a hilarious answer. Saying, “Oh s–t…Max would be…Hey man….I’m out, I’m gone. That’s generational wealth. Imma be done. Y’all ain’t gonna hear about me, Imma straighten the f–k up. They gonna say, damn this mf done changed like a motherf*cka. Yeah, n* this n* ain’t Mad Max no more, he Glad Max,” suggesting that that amount of money would change his persona from angry to content. Quite hilarious!
Well, Mad Max can speculate all he wants about what he would have earned in today’s time. Since he played in multiple teams throughout his illustrious career, he was also compensated differently. From earning a modest six-figure contract to reaching seven figures. Let us take a look.
The evolution of Vernon Maxwell’s contracts
The contracts of Vernon Maxwell relay a wild story. Vernon Maxwell went from barely touching six figures to bringing in millions. All while leaving an indelible mark in the NBA as one of the league’s most fearless and fiery players.
Let us begin with the 1990-91 season. The Houston Rockets paid Vernon Maxwell $250,000 at the time. When compared to today’s standards, it feels like pocket change. After adjusting for inflation, that sum reaches about $547,000, yet players now sign multi $10 million contracts as easily as flimsy rental agreements.
By the time 1994-95 rolled in, Vernon Maxwell had established himself as a defensive menace. Winning back-to-back rings. And he began to rake in seven-figure checks. He earned a reported $1.9 million, nearly $4 million in today’s money. Quite a step up, huh? Then came the journeyman years. Vernon Maxwell bounced around from Houston to Philly, San Antonio, Sacramento, OKC, before they were even called the Thunder, and the Knicks.
His contracts stayed mostly in the $1 million range, however, the inflation-adjusted numbers show a steady climb in NBA salaries. By 2001-02, his final NBA season came by, and he was down to $473K with the New York Knicks, a full-circle moment back to the six-figure contract. He returned to square one. Almost poetic.
How much do you think “Glad Max” would’ve been able to make if he was playing in 2025?
The post With NBA’s Salary Cap Surging, Vernon Maxwell Reveals the Modest Deal He’d Land Today appeared first on EssentiallySports.
