Brian Shaw believes NBA players today make too much money: "They go in the mall, they buy an outfit and then they leave it"

There is no doubt that the NBA has gone through a tremendous amount of change over the last decade or so. Of course, the brand of basketball is completely different, where the old-school bully ball, where elbows were part of everyday language, has been swapped for a more perimeter-oriented style, where seemingly everyone on the roster has the green light to fire away from deep.

However, more than anything, the biggest shift has come from the massive influx of money pouring in from sponsorships, TV deals, and global appeal.

One of the many guys who has witnessed this transformation firsthand is Brian Shaw. The three-time NBA champion has seen the league evolve both as a player and now as an assistant coach, and he recently admitted just how drastic the financial gap is between then and now.

“I don’t know what you made your first year, but I made 150,000$ and the players now say to me, ‘Damn, coach, how did you live off that?'” the retired guard admitted in his recent appearance on Byron Scott’s “Fast Break” podcast.

“I’ve been on team with guys who, we going on a 9-10 day East Coast trip, and they only bring a backpack. They go in the mall, they buy an outfit and then they leave it. And go to the next place, buy an outfit and leave it. They only got a backpack and a PlayStation,” he added.

Money has skyrocketed in recent years

To understand how drastically things have changed, it is best that we look at the pure numbers.

Back in 1988, the average NBA salary was $528,011 spread across 321 players. Patrick Ewing was the highest earner in the league that year, bringing in $3.25 million from the New York Knicks. That was considered massive money back then, while in today’s world, that would be considered just slightly above the minimum salary.

Fast forward to the 2024–25 season, and the numbers are mind-blowing, to say the least. Today, the average is around $11.9, and the biggest earner, Stephen Curry, is making almost 20 times the money Ewing made in his prime!

Considering this was just a scratch of the surface, it’s easy to see why some veterans might shake their heads at how far things have come. And B-Shaw’s borderline absurd splurging story goes to show how much money today’s stars are working with.

“The money is so crazy, that to them they can do that. A dollar is still a dollar to me at the end of the day,” the retired guard pointed out.

Respect and money go hand in hand

Sure, some veterans might feel they were simply “born in the wrong time,” especially when you consider that role players today are pocketing $15–20 million annually. It’s hard not to wonder what someone like Shaw could have earned had he played in this era. But if we’re being completely honest, these players are simply enjoying the fruits of their labor — and the labor of those who came before them.

That’s where respect for the game and its history has to be mandatory. Shaw himself has spoken on how he feels that appreciation often gets lost somewhere among younger generations, who sometimes struggle to understand the grind of previous eras.

As someone who now serves as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers, Shaw has a unique point of view. Where once he was just trying to earn his bread by hooping on the floor, now he sees all those young stars splurge their money around without much respect for those who made it all possible.

And while the Association will continue to evolve, one thing is clear: the money is only going to get bigger.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Brian Shaw believes NBA players today make too much money: “They go in the mall, they buy an outfit and then they leave it”

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