NBA

Who are the highest-paid undrafted players in NBA history? Fred VanVleet's new deal tops list

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On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the Toronto Raptors made the re-signing of Fred VanVleet official.

Undrafted in 2016, the 6-foot-1 guard from Wichita State signed the dotted line on a four-year deal reportedly worth $85 million. Per ESPN Stats & Info, it is by far the richest NBA contract signed by an undrafted player, surpassing a four-year deal worth $70.1 million signed by Wesley Matthews in 2015.

Not only is VanVleet's deal the richest total deal, but it is also the richest contract by average annual value (AAV). Below, find a list of the other notable undrafted players that fall behind VanVleet.

All contract information is per Spotrac.

Largest contracts for undrafted players, NBA history
  Player Contract AAV Signed With Years
1. Fred VanVleet 4 years, $85,000,000 $21,250,000 Toronto Raptors 2020-24
2. Wesley Matthews 4 years, $70,060,026 $17,515,007 Dallas Mavericks 2015-19
3. Kent Bazemore 4 years, $70,000,000 $17,500,000 Atlanta Hawks 2016-20
4. Brad Miller 7 years, $68,000,000 $9,714,286 Indiana Pacers 2003-10
5. Timofey Mozgov 4 years, $64,000,000 $16,000,000 Los Angeles Lakers 2016-20
6. Joe Ingles 4 years, $52,000,000 $13,000,000 Utah Jazz 2017-21
7. Tyler Johnson 4 years, $50,000,000 $12,500,000 Miami Heat 2016-20
8. Robert Covington 4 years, $46,879,127 $11,719,782 Philadelphia 76ers 2018-22
9. Ben Wallace 3 years, $46.000,000 $15,333,333 Chicago Bulls 2006-09
10. José Calderon 5 years, $45,000,000 $9,000,000 Toronto Raptors 2008-13
11. Christian Wood 3 years, $41,000,000 $13,666,667 Houston Rockets 2020-23
12. Dewayne Dedmon 3 years, $40,000,000 $13,333,333 Sacramento Kings 2019-22
13. Matthew Dellavedova 4 years, $38,430,000 $9,607,500 Milwaukee Bucks 2016-20
14. Jeremy Lin 3 years, $38,300,000 $12,766,667 Brooklyn Nets 2016-19
15. Andres Nocioni 5 years, $37,5000,00 $7,500,000 Chicago Bulls 2008-13

While VanVleet has signed the richest deal, it is Matthews, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, that remains at the top of the list of highest lifetime earners among undrafted players. Here's a look at where the top 10 will stand following the 2020-21 NBA season, per Spotrac.

Career earnings, undrafted players (through 2020-21 season)
  Player Seasons Total Earnings
1. Wesley Matthews 14 $108,834,329
2. José Calderon 17 $84,201,469
3. Kent Bazemore 10 $76,378,166
4. Udonis Haslem 18 $65,458,104
5. Joe Ingles 7 $54,060,179
6. Robert Covington 8 $53,551,309
7. Tyler Johnson 7 $52,436,265
8. JJ Barea 16 $44,204,559
9. Matthew Dellavedova 9 $42,457,787
10. Fred VanVleet 5 $40,521,947

VanVleet, who will be 29 years old when he will have a player option for the final year of his deal in the 2023-24 season, stands to continue to rise up the list of total earnings through the life of his contract.

Not bad for an undrafted player.

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Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.