I realize it was likely not Josh Smith’s intent to come out and make it seem like he is complaining about being a millionaire but this is terrible. Smith took a pay cut to sign with the Clippers and will get the minimum from them, plus money the Pistons owe him, which totals up to about $6.9 million. While most of us dream of that type of money and could be set for life by being smart with it, Smith thinks it will be a struggle to live off of that amount.
@IamJoeSports
During a Los Angeles Clippers news conference on Tuesday to introduce the newly signed forward Josh Smith, the former NBA All-Star discussed the challenges he’ll face as a result.
“At the end of the day, you know, I do have a family,” he told reporters. “So it is going to be a little harder on me this year. But I’m going to push through it, you know?”
Smith — who has earned over $97 million from NBA contracts in his 11-year career, according to Spotrac — signed a one-year deal with the Clippers earlier this month for the veteran’s minimum of $1.5 million. His former team, the Detroit Pistons, will also be paying him $5.4 million to not play for them. (Smith was released last December by the Pistons after signing a four-year, $54 million contract in July 2013.)
That adds up to just $6.9 million next season — a far cry from the over $13 million he was making just two years ago. We weep for you, Josh Smith.
In all seriousness, Smith seems to be paying homage to former NBA star Latrell Sprewell by focusing on his family’s impending financial struggles. Remember when Spreewell deemed the Minnesota Timberwolves’ three-year, $30 million contract offer as “insulting”?
Smith has been living a lifestyle based on a certain salary, a number which has now drastically changed. Based on the total amount of money he has made throughout the years, if $6.9 is seriously a problem, then maybe he is the next coming of Antoine Walker from the Celtics.
