Erick Dampier spent 16 seasons playing in the NBA. The 6-foot-11 center from Mississippi was a true big man when he played. He was not like these centers that play away from the basketball in today’s game. He was always in the paint.

Over the course of his playing career, Dampier made a lot of money. Though he did not make an all-star team or receive any individual awards, teams still were willing to pay him a good amount of money.

Erick Dampier’s career in the NBA

Dampier played his college basketball at Mississippi State University, where he led his team an SEC tournament championship in 1996 and also an NCAA Final Four appearance his junior year. He decided to skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft. The Indiana Pacers selected him with the tenth overall pick in the draft.

As a rookie, Dampier played in 72 games for Indiana and averaged 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Dampier had to get adjusted to the NBA game. He only spent one season in Indiana and was traded to the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors were in need of a big man, and they felt that Dampier could fill that need. In his second NBA season, he started in all 82 games for the Warriors and averaged 11.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Throughout the course of his time with the Warriors, Dampier was in the starting rotation. Though his numbers did not jump out, he was consistent for the most part. He had a big year during the 2003-04 season. He had career highs in points (12.3), rebounds (12.0), and minutes per game (32.5). That was Dampier’s final season with the Warriors. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and spent six seasons in Dallas. Dampier played in his first NBA finals as a member of the Mavericks in 2006. The Mavericks took on the Miami Heat and lost to the Heat in six games.

Erick Dampier’s final two seasons in the league

Dampier ended up being traded to the Charlotte Bobcats after his time in Dallas. He did not play a single game with the Bobcats as the team waived him in 2010 before the seasons started. A few months later, he signed a contract with the Miami Heat.

Dampier found himself playing in another NBA finals. This time it was against his former team the Mavericks. The Mavericks defeated the Heat in six games to win the 2011 NBA championship. Toward the end of his career, Dampier’s production decreased, and he did not get that much playing time.

 After one season in Miami, Dampier spent his final NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks. He only played in 15 games averaging 5.5 minutes per game. Dampier finished his career averaging 7.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Though his numbers weren’t the best throughout his career, Dampier still got paid.

How did Erick Dampier make so much money?

When Dampier first came into the league, he was already a millionaire. In his one season with the Pacers, he made over $1 million. In his seven seasons playing with the Warriors, he made close to $28 million. With Dampier’s size, he could help a lot of NBA teams during that team. Teams were looking for big men.

When Dampier joined the Mavericks, that’s when he got paid. He made around $60 million during his six years in Dallas. Though he was never a top player on the teams he played for, he did get a nice amount of money. Looking back at his career, you can debate whether or not he was worth all that money he made during his career.