Peja Stojakovic Net Worth

What is Peja Stojaković's net worth and salary?

Peja Stojaković is a former professional basketball player who has a net worth of $45 million. Peja Stojaković is widely recognized as one of the greatest European players in the history of the National Basketball Association. His career spanned from 1992 to 2011. He was known for his great shooting ability. He was the winner of the NBA All-Start Weekend Three-Point Shootout twice, and was the first European-born player to win one of the All-Star Weekend competitions. Stojaković was a three-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Dallas Mavericks' 2011 NBA Championship team. At his NBA peak he stood 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 230 pounds.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Pedrag Stajoković was born on June 9, 1977 in Slavonska Požega, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia. His family fled to Belgrade during the Yugoslav wars.

He began his professional basketball career at 14 with Red Star Belgrade.

Stojaković started his career in KK Crvena zvezda (FR Yugoslavia) for two senior seasons, and won the national championship. He then moved to Greece where he played for the team PAOK and was nicknamed Peja. He played for the team from 1994-1998 and during this time, he received Greek citizenship and served in the Greek Army, which is an obligation of all male citizens of Greece.

His stellar performance quickly attracted attention, and in 1998 he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings as the 14th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Stojaković spent the bulk of his NBA career with the Kings, where he distinguished himself as one of the premier shooters in the league. From 2001 to 2004, he was selected to the NBA All-Star team three times and won the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout twice. In the 2003-2004 season, he averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game. His performance helped establish the Kings as a strong force in the Western Conference during the early 2000s.

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Contracts and Career Earnings

By the time of his retirement in 2011, his career earnings from NBA salaries alone were estimated to be over $100 million.

His first contract with the Sacramento Kings was a three-year deal worth $2.4 million. He then signed a six-year, $45 million contract extension with the Kings in 2001. Stojaković continued to earn sizable contracts with his subsequent teams, the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Hornets.

NBA Championship and Retirement

In 2011, midway through the season, Stojaković signed with the Dallas Mavericks. This proved to be a decisive move as the Mavericks, bolstered by Stojaković's experienced presence and shooting prowess, went on to win the NBA Championship that year. Following the championship victory, Stojaković announced his retirement from professional basketball in December 2011, ending his 13-season NBA career on a high note.

Legacy and Post-Basketball Life

Stojaković left a profound legacy on the game. His exceptional shooting ability, particularly from behind the three-point line, influenced the playing style of many young players and has been seen as contributing to the emphasis on three-point shooting in modern basketball. In his post-basketball life, Stojaković transitioned into an administrative role. He returned to the Sacramento Kings organization in 2015, serving first as the director of player personnel and development, and later as an assistant general manager.