Shaq says Jordan should be highest-paid player in league

Jet, June 17, 1996

Orlando Magic superstar center Shaquille O'Neal recently spoke in favor of Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan as the player who should be the highest-paid in the next season.

Jordan, who becomes a free-agent this summer, was recently quoted in the Chicago Tribune as wanting $18 million a year. O'Neal agrees that Jordan is the most deserving of that kind of figure.

Michael should be the highest-paid player in the league because he is the best player. And I should be next," O'Neal revealed in the Chicago Sun-Times.

O'Neal made the statement while the Bulls were in the midst of a four-game sweep of the Magic during the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

This season, New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing was the highest-paid player after he received a balloon payment of $18.7 million.

But O'Neal, Jordan, Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning, Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo, Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller and Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman are big-name free agents who are expected to demand bigger salaries this summer.