Underpaid Stars in Sports

These players are really giving their teams a real discount.

These Star Athletes Are Severely Underpaid - Would it shock you to find out that one of the NFL’s lowest-paid starting quarterbacks is the same guy who has led the Seattle Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls? Yes, Seattle is getting Russell Wilson on the cheap! And he’s not the only underpaid athlete in sports right now. Scanning the current sports climate, there are several underpaid stars, putting up bigger numbers on the board than in their bank accounts. Get ya money, man! (Photos from left: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images, David Banks/Getty Images), Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

1 / 11

These Star Athletes Are Severely Underpaid - Would it shock you to find out that one of the NFL’s lowest-paid starting quarterbacks is the same guy who has led the Seattle Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls? Yes, Seattle is getting Russell Wilson on the cheap! And he’s not the only underpaid athlete in sports right now. Scanning the current sports climate, there are several underpaid stars, putting up bigger numbers on the board than in their bank accounts. Get ya money, man! (Photos from left: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images, David Banks/Getty Images), Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Russell Wilson - Look, $817,302 this year (with incentives) is enough to make more than a comfortable living with most professions. But in sports, and for Russell Wilson, the salary shows how grossly underpaid the Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback is. At 26 years old and only in his third season, Wilson has already led the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls. To say that the Seahawks are getting a bargain would be an understatement. Still in his original rookie contract, Wilson is severely underpaid...but not for long. Several reports say Seattle is set on making him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL this offseason.(Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

2 / 11

Russell Wilson - Look, $817,302 this year (with incentives) is enough to make more than a comfortable living with most professions. But in sports, and for Russell Wilson, the salary shows how grossly underpaid the Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback is. At 26 years old and only in his third season, Wilson has already led the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls. To say that the Seahawks are getting a bargain would be an understatement. Still in his original rookie contract, Wilson is severely underpaid...but not for long. Several reports say Seattle is set on making him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL this offseason.(Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Jimmy Butler - The Chicago Bulls tout a former NBA MVP in Derrick Rose, the league's current Defensive Player of the Year in Joakim Noah and two-time champion Pau Gasol. Yet, their best player this season has been a fearless 25-year-old shooting guard: Jimmy Butler. The third-year guard, who is still playing under his original rookie contract, is making just over $2 million this season. You wouldn't know it from his team-high 20.6 points per game average. The kid's a star...and will soon get paid like one.(Photo: David Banks/Getty Images) 

3 / 11

Jimmy Butler - The Chicago Bulls tout a former NBA MVP in Derrick Rose, the league's current Defensive Player of the Year in Joakim Noah and two-time champion Pau Gasol. Yet, their best player this season has been a fearless 25-year-old shooting guard: Jimmy Butler. The third-year guard, who is still playing under his original rookie contract, is making just over $2 million this season. You wouldn't know it from his team-high 20.6 points per game average. The kid's a star...and will soon get paid like one.(Photo: David Banks/Getty Images) 

Damian Lillard - It's almost a sports contract crime that Damian Lillard is getting paid just north of $3 million this season, but is flat-out an elite point guard in the NBA. Like the Chicago Bulls with Jimmy Butler, the Portland Trail Blazers are going to have to fork over some heavy cash if they're going to keep their star in Oregon. If not, we're sure teams would line up to take him off their hands. (Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

4 / 11

Damian Lillard - It's almost a sports contract crime that Damian Lillard is getting paid just north of $3 million this season, but is flat-out an elite point guard in the NBA. Like the Chicago Bulls with Jimmy Butler, the Portland Trail Blazers are going to have to fork over some heavy cash if they're going to keep their star in Oregon. If not, we're sure teams would line up to take him off their hands. (Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Evan Longoria - Evan Longoria earned $8 million last season. Nice amount of money. But when you consider that the Tampa Bay Rays third baseman's numbers of 22 home runs and 91 RBIs were better than players who got paid more last season, it should put things in perspective that Longoria is giving the Rays quite the discount for his services.  (Photo: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

5 / 11

Evan Longoria - Evan Longoria earned $8 million last season. Nice amount of money. But when you consider that the Tampa Bay Rays third baseman's numbers of 22 home runs and 91 RBIs were better than players who got paid more last season, it should put things in perspective that Longoria is giving the Rays quite the discount for his services.  (Photo: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Andrew McCutchen - Andrew McCutchen's $7.4 million salary last season was nowhere near what a star center fielder, who hit .314 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI, is actually worth. The Pittsburgh Pirates need to empty the Brinks truck on McCutchen next time around.(Photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

6 / 11

Andrew McCutchen - Andrew McCutchen's $7.4 million salary last season was nowhere near what a star center fielder, who hit .314 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI, is actually worth. The Pittsburgh Pirates need to empty the Brinks truck on McCutchen next time around.(Photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Stephen Curry - When Stephen Curry inked a four-year, $44 million extension with the Golden State Warriors in 2012, it was a favorable deal to both parties at the time. Curry was coming off two surgeries on the same ankle and both he and the team didn't know what to expect. In retrospect, the deal turned out to be a steal for the Warriors because Curry has shown no signs of being slowed down by that ankle. In fact, he is a serious MVP candidate and the Warriors own one of the NBA's best record. He'll be maxed out next time around.(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

7 / 11

Stephen Curry - When Stephen Curry inked a four-year, $44 million extension with the Golden State Warriors in 2012, it was a favorable deal to both parties at the time. Curry was coming off two surgeries on the same ankle and both he and the team didn't know what to expect. In retrospect, the deal turned out to be a steal for the Warriors because Curry has shown no signs of being slowed down by that ankle. In fact, he is a serious MVP candidate and the Warriors own one of the NBA's best record. He'll be maxed out next time around.(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Anthony Davis - At 21 years old, Anthony Davis is an undeniable NBA superstar. His 24.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game are proof. But he knows, the New Orleans Pelicans know and so does the rest of the world...he's worth way more than the $5.6 million he's coming away with this season.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

8 / 11

Anthony Davis - At 21 years old, Anthony Davis is an undeniable NBA superstar. His 24.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game are proof. But he knows, the New Orleans Pelicans know and so does the rest of the world...he's worth way more than the $5.6 million he's coming away with this season.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Reggie Jackson - On any other NBA team, Reggie Jackson is a full-time starter. On any other squad, he would probably be paid more than the $2.2 million he's grossing this season. At 24, Jackson's 14.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.2 boards per game are not shabby numbers. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

9 / 11

Reggie Jackson - On any other NBA team, Reggie Jackson is a full-time starter. On any other squad, he would probably be paid more than the $2.2 million he's grossing this season. At 24, Jackson's 14.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.2 boards per game are not shabby numbers. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Dez Bryant - All Dez Bryant did this season was lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 16 scores. If the Dallas Cowboys want to hold onto their superstar wideout, they're going to have to shell out way more than the $1.78 million he earned in base salary this season. He needs to get paid to the highest market value for wide receivers.  (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

10 / 11

Dez Bryant - All Dez Bryant did this season was lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 16 scores. If the Dallas Cowboys want to hold onto their superstar wideout, they're going to have to shell out way more than the $1.78 million he earned in base salary this season. He needs to get paid to the highest market value for wide receivers.  (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

T.Y. Hilton - T.Y. Hilton is in a four-year, $2.6 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts and he was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL with 1,345 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. What a steal! And the Colts have Hilton through next season with that contract.(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

11 / 11

T.Y. Hilton - T.Y. Hilton is in a four-year, $2.6 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts and he was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL with 1,345 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. What a steal! And the Colts have Hilton through next season with that contract.(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)