Australian Tennis Star Nick Kyrgios Takes Shot at Washington Wizards Kyle Kuzma
The Washington Wizards signed forward Kyle Kuzma to a four-year 102 million dollar extension.
Kuzma is now the 55th highest paid player, by annual salary, in the NBA and the second highest on the Wizards behind guard Jordan Poole.
Basketball as a whole ranks at the top of the list in professional sports when it comes to average annual salary.
Australian tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios had something to say about Kuzma's salary in a profile with The Athletic's Matthew Futterman.
He was referencing how little tennis players make in compared to how much they play.
"He doesnt understand how just a moderately talented NBA player such as Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards could sign a four-year contract this summer worth $100 million," Futterman writes about Kyrgios. "Nearly as much as Roger Federer earned in prize money ($130 million) during his entire career."
"He's not even a top 50 player," Kyrgios said of Kuzma.
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) talks with Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. (R) against the Boston Celtics in the third quarter at Capital One Arena.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Kyrgios isn't wrong, universally Kuzma isn't regarded as a top 50 player.
But he doesn't get paid as a top 50 player in the NBA.
Kuzma gets paid at his exact value in the market that he is in, not overpaid or underpaid, but literally exactly how he should be.
If Kyrgios seriously has a gripe with the pay differences then his gripe should be with ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals).
Or maybe Kyrgios should have learned to dunk a basketball instead of returning serves.
Taking a shot at Kuzma though? Well it is kind of ridiculous but if you know anything about Kyrgios, ridiculous shouldn't surprise you.
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