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- The first day of NBA free agency went as expected.
- Over $1.5 billion was spent during the first few hours in an insane spending spree.
- The NBA world reacted to a ton of deals getting done on the first day.
The beginning of NBA free agency is a national holiday for some. For others, such as Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania, it is ongoing work.
For others, like NBA players, it is a chance to cash in on once-in-a-lifetime contracts. When 6 PM EST hit on Thursday, deals came in at a record pace, and it didn’t take long for a ton of money to be spent.
The first two deals, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, were extensions for Denver Nuggets star and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic as well as Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.
Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has agreed to a five-year, $264 million supermax contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, the richest deal in NBA history, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Fifth season (2027-28) will be a player option at $60M.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
The Phoenix Suns and All-NBA guard Devin Booker are finalizing a four-year, $214 million supermax contract extension that he’s set to sign as soon as next week, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Booker will also be the cover athlete for NBA 2K23, per sources.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
Of course, deals kept coming all throughout the night, including a rich extension for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has agreed on a five-year, $193M designated rookie maximum extension that could become worth $231M, his agent Jim Tanner of @_TandemSE tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022
All in all, more than $1.5 BILLION was spent on the first day — in less than 12 hours.
The NBA World Reacts To Another Massive Free Agency
It didn’t take long, and, to be frank, it never does. Money was spent quickly, and the big stars were locked down, except for Kevin Durant, who requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the day.
Nonetheless, that is a lot of cash to be spent, and the NBA world reacted accordingly.
So far in NBA free agency, over $1.5 billion worth of contracts were signed.
(h/t @statmuse) pic.twitter.com/pYudzDG8Ge
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 1, 2022
Actually, after just FOUR HOURS, over $1 billion was spent.
We've topped over $1B (B as in BILLION) agreed to in deals in the first 1.5 hours of free agency.
This is according to our ace tracking @spotrac!
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2022
Over $1.5 billion worth of contracts were signed today.
It’s just the first day. pic.twitter.com/KBC2tbTBeC
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 1, 2022
NBA = cash cow https://t.co/1Z9V2nyrgH
— MUK (@dudebball1) July 1, 2022
And the Celtics contributed nothing to that
— dookie soup (@rfeeley17) June 30, 2022
Most of that is like 3 dudes 🤣
— Foro (@foro351) June 30, 2022
Me trying keep up with Free agency right now pic.twitter.com/f6ssdocG8D
— TheHomieJoker🃏 (@TheHomieJoker) June 30, 2022
NBA teams have committed a reported $1.5 Billion in salaries through the first 6 hours of free agency
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) July 1, 2022
KD Kyrie…Free Agency…No sports leeg has an off season quite like the NBA,huh peepl?
— Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) June 30, 2022
All in all, it was an absolute wild day, and surely more will come with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Deandre Ayton listed as potential trade targets.