A short sharp examination of how paying luxury tax does not necessarily correlate with winning
February 27th, 2014
An important and unique feature of this website is the annual monitoring of every luxury tax dollar paid in NBA history. Using that data, here’s a short sharp hot sports take.
The ten highest individual team luxury tax payments of all time:
1) 2013/14 Brooklyn Nets: $89,582,458 (assuming that Jason Collins signs for the remainder of the season on 4th March, his first allowable opportunity)
2) 2002/03 Portland Trail Blazers: $51,971,000 (rounded only to the nearest $1,000)
3) 2006/07 New York Knicks: $45,142,002
4) 2003/04 New York Knicks: $39,867,214
5) 2005/06 New York Knicks: $37,248,752
6) 2012/13 L.A. Lakers: $29,259,739
7) 2003/04 Portland Trail Blazers: $28,846,436
8) 2003/04 Dallas Mavericks: $25,031,932
9) 2002/03 New York Knicks: $24,371,000 (rounded only to the nearest $1,000)
10) 2008/09 New York Knicks: $23,736,207
The records of those respective teams:
1) 2013/14 Brooklyn Nets: 26-29
2) 2002/03 Portland Trail Blazers: 50-32
3) 2006/07 New York Knicks: 33-49
4) 2003/04 New York Knicks: 39-43
5) 2005/06 New York Knicks: 23-59
6) 2012/13 L.A. Lakers: 45-37
7) 2003/04 Portland Trail Blazers: 41-41
8) 2003/04 Dallas Mavericks: 52-30
9) 2002/03 New York Knicks: 37-45
10) 2008/09 New York Knicks: 32-50
Total expenditure: $395,056,740
Total record: 378-415
