Explaining the NBA Supermax Contract

With NBA's highly-anticipated 2019 free agency about to commence, we should all be well aware of the ever-controversial supermax contract, a luxury that, contrary to popular belief, very view players have the opportunity to sign.

In fact, we've already seen Damian Lillard closing in on the first supermax contract of the summer just moments ago. So, what's the difference between a max deal and a supermax deal?

What is a Supermax Contract in the NBA?

Officially coined as the "Designated Veteran Player Extension," the Association's supermax permits teams to re-sign qualified players to five-year contracts worth up to 35% of the salary cap. An added bonus to the contract? The annual payout increases by 8% for each year of the deal.

Different Types of Supermax Deals

A player who has completed seven or eight seasons in the NBA and has one year left on his current deal can sign a five-year supermax. A player who has played seven or eight seasons in the NBA and has two years left on his contract is eligible for a four-year supermax.

If you've put in eight or nine seasons of NBA service, you can be eligible for a five-year supermax.

Who is Eligible for a Supermax Contract?

If a player has passed all of the aforementioned requirements, he also must be:

1.Named league MVP in any of the three previous seasons.
2. Named to an All-NBA team in the most recent season (or both seasons before it).
3. Named Defensive Player of the Year in the most recent season (or both seasons before it).

Which NBA Players Have Supermax Contracts?

Currently, there are four NBA players getting paid the designated veteran extension: Steph Curry, James Harden, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook.

There you have it, folks. As it currently stands, and assuming Kemba Walker ends up in Boston, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only remaining player in the league eligible to sign a supermax in the near future.

Happy Free Agency!