NBA Gators cashing big checks
The start of another NBA season means more big paydays for former Gators.
There are 10 former Gators currently playing in the NBA, almost enough to field a full roster. Vernon Macklin left the Detroit Pistons to play overseas in Turkey. The newest NBA Gator, rookie guard Bradley Beal, finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in his pro debut Tuesday night with the Washington Wizards.
Here’s a look at the former Gator player salaries in 2012-13 (source Hoopshype.com). Former Florida players will make about $60.6 million. Here’s the breakdown:
David Lee, Golden State Warriors — $12.7 million
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks — $12 million
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls — $11.05 million
Mike Miller, Miami Heat — $5.8 million
Marresse Speights, Memphis Grizzlies — $4.2 million
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards — $4.1 million
Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat — $4.06 million
Matt Bonner, San Antonio Spurs — $3.6 million
Corey Brewer, Denver Nuggets — $3.2 million
Chandler Parsons, Houston Rockets — $888,250
Kevin Brockway gave up on his dream of becoming a lefty starting pitcher for the New York Mets when he walked four straight batters, then hit one in a middle school game in Suffern, N.Y. Since graduating college in 1993, he’s worked as a sports writer at daily newspapers throughout the state of Florida, beginning with the Key West Citizen. He then moved on to the Northwest Florida Daily News and Naples Daily News before becoming the men’s basketball writer for The Gainesville Sun in 2003. Brockway has won multiple state and national writing awards during his 16-year career. Favorite pastimes include karaoke and watching baseball. Favorite college hoops team growing up was St. John’s.
So, how about a list of the Gators playing in Europe, South America or elsewhere? I hadn’t heard about Macklin going to Turkey.
by Lyn Arnold