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According to Spotrac’s contract rankings, which include deals announced but not yet finalized, the $3,876,529 James will take home next season is the 292nd-ranked payday in the NBA. That means that the global celebrity who leveraged his fame into billionaire status will earn the exact same amount as, say, DeAndre Jordan, a third-string center who appeared in 12 games all of last season.
Tim MacMahon: "The New Orleans Pelicans giving DeAndre Jordan a fully guaranteed two-year minimum, which, listen, you want DeAndre Jordan to be your vet mentor for the next two years, cool. The problem is when you give him a fully guaranteed two-year minimum, you do not get the savings that come with giving a guy a minimum. So basically, you just burn three million dollars over two years. If it is a one plus a team option, you get the savings. Certainly a one-year deal."
Sources with knowledge of New Orleans’ thinking say that the Pelicans re-signed DeAndre Jordan to a two-year deal rather than a mere one-year minimum contract because they were convinced that Jordan had one-year interest elsewhere that he was prepared to accept and did not want to lose the 37-year-old's locker room influence.
Jake Fischer: DeAndre Jordan’s agreement to return to New Orleans is for two years, $7.9 million, sources say, with both seasons fully guaranteed.
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Shamit Dua: Per league sources, DeAndre Jordan's deal with the Pelicans is a fully guaranteed minimum
Karlo Matkovic: ‘The role of a veteran is very important, and DeAndre Jordan really helped me a lot this year. It helps to have a team like that where someone doesn't just come to me and say 'Cheers' and then ignore me. He learned from Jokić, he learned from Dončić. (…) He really turned out to be an 'extra' veteran. I go with him after games; he calls me, we joke around, it's great. But you can also see how he maintains his body—it’s unreal.’
Blake Griffin on DeAndre Jordan: “Dude, he’s like — I mean, you see him now as a vet, and it’s easier for vets to do that, but he was that for us when he was second, third, fourth year in the league. He’s a connector of people. And not to mention, he’s just an absolute freak athlete. I watched him physically punk a lot of centers, and he just never gets hurt. He’s a monster. But off the court, he’s one of those people that brings people together. You know what I mean? He keeps everything light. He has incredible empathy and EQ. His emotional awareness is off the charts, where he sees somebody maybe not having their best day or best game, and he’ll go put his arm around them because he’s built that relationship with each guy on the team.
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NBA Communications: New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan has been named the 2025-26 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year. Presented annually since 2012-13, the award recognizes the player deemed the league’s best teammate, based on selfless play, leadership and commitment to the team.
While his focus remains on the “now” and the remaining fuel in his tank, the transition from the court to the sidelines seems like a logical progression for a man with his level of basketball IQ and championship pedigree. We closed our conversation by looking at the long-term horizon and whether the “coach” title is one he is actually ready to embrace. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You clearly enjoy mentoring young players. Is coaching something you see in your future? DeAndre Jordan: If I have to deal with Derik Queen every [expletive] day? No! [Laughs]. Seriously though, I’ve thought about it. It could be in the cards. I don’t have any gray hairs just yet and I’d like to keep it that way for a while!
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Derik Queen has shown a lot of versatility, particularly closing the season strong on the glass. Where have you seen the most growth in his game? DeAndre Jordan: He’s grown a ton. He’s done some great things and the sky is really the limit for him. This upcoming offseason is going to be huge for him. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You two are planning to work together in Los Angeles this summer. What specific skills are you going to focus on? DeAndre Jordan: [Smiles] I’d rather keep that a secret. We’re going to work, we’re going to hang out and he’s going to enjoy his summer but he’s definitely going to work. Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Does Derik’s style of play remind you of anyone else in the league? DeAndre Jordan: He’s a true playmaker. He can really handle the ball. He has a real relationship with the ball, which is rare for someone his size. He can handle it, he has great touch and he can score on all three levels. He does things that are usually guard oriented and he can shoot the ball and he can playmaker. Now, we just have to figure out how to enhance that and help him grow on both ends of the floor.
NBA Communications: The NBA today announced the finalists for the 2025-26 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. The annual honor recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team. Current NBA players will select the winner from these 12 finalists (six finalists from each NBA conference): Desmond Bane, Jalen Brunson, Pat Connaughton, De'Aaron Fox, Jeff Green, Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Jordan, Duncan Robinson, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Garrett Temple, Jaylin Williams.