Major league athletes whose following-year salary increased 2½ times or more: Michael Jordan, 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, $3,850,000, 1996-97 Bulls, $30,140,000, an 8-times increase … Kobe Bryant, 1998-99 Los Angeles Lakers, $1,300,000, 1999-2000 Lakers, $9,000,000, 7 times … Alex Rodriguez, 2000 Seattle Mariners, $4,300,000, 2001 Texas Rangers, $22,000,000, 5.1 times … Pat Mahomes, 2022 Kansas City Chiefs, $1,500,000, 2023 Chiefs, $5,500,000, 3.6 times … Adonis Terry (of Westfield), 1887 Brooklyn Grays, $1,200, 1888 Brooklyn Bridegrooms, $4,200, 3.5 times … Stephen Curry, 2016-17 Golden State Warriors, $15,000,000, 2017-18 Warriors, $43,500,000, 2.85 times … Barry Bonds, 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates, $850,000, 1991 Pirates $2,300,000, 2.7 times … Babe Ruth, 1921 New York Yankees, $20,000, 1922 Yankees, $52,000, 2.5 times … Bobby Bonilla, 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates, $2,400,000, 1992 New York Mets, $6,100,000, 2.5 times … Wilt Chamberlain, 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, $100,000, 1967-68 Los Angeles Lakers, $250,000, 2.5 times.
Also: Shohei Ohtani, 2023 Los Angeles Angels, $30 million, 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers, $68 million (some money deferred), 2.3 times … in 11th place for biggest yearly hikes behind Jordan, Bryant, A-Rod, Mahomes, Terry, Curry, Bonds, Ruth, Bonilla and Wilt the Stilt.
Walter Krzeminski
