The news of Collin Gillespie signing a contract extension with the Phoenix Suns adds more to weeks of action in the NBA surrounding Villanova.
The New York Knicks are NBA champions with a trio of former Wildcats on the roster and now, Gillespie adds to the pot of money made from former Villanova greats.
The news broke on Saturday night of Gillespie’s new deal and it made one think, what are the contract situations of former Villanova players currently in the NBA?
Wildcats in the NBA
- Jalen Brunson: 4 years, $156.5 million with New York Knicks
- Mikal Bridges: 4 years, $150 million with New York Knicks
- Josh Hart: 4 years, $81 million with New York Knicks
- Collin Gillespie: 4 years, $48 million with Phoenix Suns
- Donte DiVincenzo: 4 years, $46.8 million with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Saddiq Bey: 3 years, $20 million with New Orleans Pelicans
- Cam Whitmore: 4 years, $15.6 million rookie deal with Washington Wizards
NOT MENTIONED: Kyle Lowry spent the
last two plus years with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was rostered this past season but, while not official, shared his plans to sign a one-day deal to retire as a member of the Toronto Raptors. Lowry spent 20 years in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and 76ers. According to Spotrac, Lowry earned $281.6 million during his career.
Jalen Brunson left $113 million on the table when he signed his extension in 2024. He wanted to give the Knicks flexiblity to keep the core together in hopes of winning championship. With that goal accomplished, Brunson is set up for a well-earned payday after the 2027-28 season. This extension could be upwards of $400 million over five years.
Brunson’s move allowed the Knicks to sign Mikal Bridges to a new four-year deal after he was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets. Donte DiVincenzo was another signing of the Knicks in free agency and made an impact for the team before being dealt to Minnesota in a deal that landed the Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns. He will enter the final year of his deal in 2026-27 and become a free agent at the end of the year.
Both Saddiq Bey and Cam Whitmore are also in the final years of their contracts. For Whitmore, it is the fourth year of his rookie deal. He was selected 20th overall in 2023. Bey is in the third year of his deal with the Pelicans.
Bey and Whitmore were part of the same trade that involved getting CJ McCollum out of New Orleans. In a three-team deal, Bey was sent to New Orleans from Washington while the Wizards brought in Whitmore.
