Last Updated on May 25, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Baron Davis’ contract history reflects the financial path of one of the NBA’s most dynamic point guards of the 2000s era. His career included a rookie-scale start with the Charlotte Hornets, a maximum-level extension during his All-Star prime, a major free-agent move to the Los Angeles Clippers, and finally a shortened late-career phase impacted heavily by injuries.
Spotrac lists Davis’ NBA career earnings at well over $140 million, placing him among the top-earning guards of his generation. What makes his contract history especially interesting is how closely it followed his evolution from explosive young star into franchise-level veteran leader and eventually into an injury-affected former All-Star trying to extend his career. (Spotrac)
What gives Baron Davis contract history long-term historical value is the way his contracts intersected with several important NBA storylines. His rookie years overlapped with the Charlotte-to-New Orleans franchise relocation, his Golden State years helped produce one of the league’s most famous playoff upsets, and his Clippers contract became tied to the franchise’s transition toward the eventual “Lob City” era.
Baron Davis Contract Agreements (As Signed)
This table tracks each major contract event in Baron Davis’ NBA career, including rookie-scale agreements, veteran extensions, free-agent signings, trade-related contract movement, amnesty waivers, and retirement-era transactions. Figures and transaction details are compiled primarily from Spotrac records and contemporaneous reporting.
| Date | Age | Team | Contract Move | Reported Terms | Seasons Affected | Clauses / Options | Detailed Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 1999 | 20 | Charlotte Hornets | Drafted No. 3 overall | First-round selection out of UCLA | 1999 draft rights | Rookie-scale path established | Charlotte selected Davis third overall after two standout collegiate seasons at UCLA, beginning a contract history that would eventually exceed $140 million in NBA earnings. (Wikipedia) |
| August 1999 | 20 | Charlotte Hornets | Signed rookie-scale contract | 3 years, approximately $8 million | 1999-00 to 2001-02 | Fourth-year team option outstanding | Davis entered the NBA on a standard top-three rookie-scale agreement and quickly developed into one of the league’s most explosive young guards. |
| October 2001 | 22 | Charlotte Hornets | Team option exercised | 2002-03 option activated | 2002-03 | Team option picked up | Charlotte secured Davis for the final season of his rookie-scale deal as he emerged into All-Star-level production. |
| October 31, 2002 | 23 | New Orleans Hornets | Rookie extension signed | 6 years, approximately $84 million | 2003-04 to 2008-09 | Maximum-level extension | The Hornets committed franchise-level money to Davis shortly after the organization relocated from Charlotte to New Orleans. (Wikipedia) |
| February 24, 2005 | 25 | Golden State Warriors | Traded from New Orleans to Golden State | Contract rights transferred in multiplayer trade | Remaining years on Hornets extension | No new contract signed | Golden State acquired Davis while he was still playing under the massive extension signed with New Orleans. |
| July 10, 2008 | 29 | Los Angeles Clippers | Signed with Clippers as free agent | 5 years, $65 million | 2008-09 to 2012-13 | Major unrestricted free-agent contract | Davis left Golden State to join his hometown Clippers in one of the biggest free-agent moves of the 2008 offseason. (Wikipedia) |
| February 24, 2011 | 31 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Traded from Clippers to Cleveland | Contract rights moved with 2011 first-round pick | Remaining Clippers contract seasons | No new contract signed | The Clippers attached Davis and a future first-round pick in the trade that helped clear cap flexibility before the Chris Paul era. (Wikipedia) |
| December 14, 2011 | 32 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Waived via amnesty clause | Remaining salary still guaranteed | 2011-12 and 2012-13 | Amnesty provision used | Cleveland used the NBA amnesty clause to remove Davis’ contract from its salary cap while still paying the guaranteed money owed. (Spotrac) |
| December 19, 2011 | 32 | New York Knicks | Signed with New York | 1 year, veteran minimum | 2011-12 | Veteran contract | Davis joined the Knicks despite dealing with a serious back injury entering the season. (Wikipedia) |
| May 6, 2012 | 33 | New York Knicks | Career-altering knee injury | Torn ACL, MCL, and patellar tendon | End of NBA career phase | Severe injury setback | Davis suffered a catastrophic knee injury during the 2012 playoffs, effectively ending his NBA career despite later comeback attempts. (Wikipedia) |
| January 15, 2016 | 36 | Delaware 87ers | Signed D-League contract | Attempted professional comeback | 2015-16 | Development League deal | Davis briefly attempted a basketball comeback in the NBA Development League several years after his NBA career had effectively concluded. (Wikipedia) |
Baron Davis NBA Salaries by Season (Actual Salary Paid)
This table tracks Baron Davis’ NBA salary by season and cumulative career earnings across his NBA career.
| Season | Age | Salary | Cumulative Career Earnings | Contract Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-00 | 20 | $2,839,920 | $2,839,920 | Rookie contract |
| 2000-01 | 21 | $3,052,080 | $5,892,000 | Rookie contract |
| 2001-02 | 22 | $3,264,240 | $9,156,240 | Rookie contract |
| 2002-03 | 23 | $4,848,000 | $14,004,240 | Rookie option year |
| 2003-04 | 24 | $10,437,500 | $24,441,740 | Hornets extension |
| 2004-05 | 25 | $11,812,500 | $36,254,240 | Hornets extension (traded to Golden State) |
| 2005-06 | 26 | $13,187,500 | $49,441,740 | Hornets extension |
| 2006-07 | 27 | $14,562,500 | $64,004,240 | Hornets extension |
| 2007-08 | 28 | $15,937,500 | $79,941,740 | Hornets extension |
| 2008-09 | 29 | $11,200,000 | $91,141,740 | Clippers free-agent contract |
| 2009-10 | 30 | $12,200,000 | $103,341,740 | Clippers contract |
| 2010-11 | 31 | $13,300,000 | $116,641,740 | Clippers contract (traded to Cleveland) |
| 2011-12 | 32 | $14,900,000 | $131,541,740 | Clippers/Cleveland guaranteed salary |
| 2012-13 | 33 | $1,337,004 | $132,878,744 | Knicks veteran contract |
| TOTAL | $132,878,744 | $132,878,744 | Full NBA career |
Analysis
Baron Davis’ contract history is easiest to understand in four phases: the explosive young-star years in Charlotte, the maximum-extension era tied to New Orleans and Golden State, the hometown Clippers free-agent phase, and finally the injury-shortened veteran years.
The defining financial moment of Davis’ career came when the Hornets signed him to a six-year extension shortly after the franchise relocated to New Orleans. That deal established him as one of the NBA’s highest-paid point guards and carried through the most productive years of his career, including his All-Star appearances and eventual move to Golden State. (Spotrac)
The Golden State period became the most important chapter for Davis’ basketball legacy even though it did not involve a new contract. The Warriors inherited the massive Hornets extension and received peak-level playoff performances from Davis, including the famous 2007 “We Believe” playoff run that featured Golden State upsetting the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks.
His Clippers contract represented both a financial and personal turning point. Davis chose to return home to Los Angeles on a five-year, $65 million agreement, expecting to help transform the Clippers into a contender. Instead, injuries and organizational instability limited the success of that era, and the contract eventually became important mainly because it helped create the cap and roster flexibility that preceded the Chris Paul acquisition. (Wikipedia)
The final stage of Davis’ contract history reflects how quickly injuries can alter NBA market value. Cleveland used the amnesty clause to remove his contract from the salary cap, and after signing with New York, a devastating knee injury in the 2012 playoffs effectively ended his NBA career at age 33. (Spotrac)
Sources
- Spotrac — contract history, salary data, transaction records
- ESPN — reporting on free agency, injuries, amnesty move, and trades
- Basketball-Reference — salary history and career records
- NBA.com — official transaction history and reporting