From ROY to Sixth Man: Malcolm Brogdon’s career earnings near $133M as he retires at 32

Malcolm Brogdon, the rare second-round pick who rose to Rookie of the Year and later Sixth Man of the Year, has called time on his NBA career at just 32. The veteran guard stepped away a week before the 2025–26 season, closing a nine-year run marked by steady production, leadership, and earnings that climbed to about $133 million in salary alone.

The decision: timing, context, and what changed

Brogdon’s retirement lands at a surprising moment. After preseason work with New York, he appeared positioned to contribute as a stabilizing ball-handler and veteran voice. Instead, he opted to exit on his own terms. For a player who has long managed lower-body and arm injuries, this choice reads less as a shock and more as a pragmatic assessment: add another grind to the odometer, or preserve long-term health and a post-basketball runway. The latter won.

Counting the dollars: how Brogdon got to ~$133 million

The headline number isn’t a splashy max; it’s the product of consistency. After outperforming his second-round slot (No. 36 in 2016), Brogdon parlayed reliable two-way play into successive deals that compounded over time. His rookie-scale value set the table; a sizable Milwaukee-to-Indiana payday moved him into eight-figure territory; and subsequent stops in Boston and Portland maintained that tier. Even a modest 2025 training-camp deal couldn’t move the needle much on the big picture: he exits with career NBA earnings in the low-$130 millions, a testament to durability of role and reputation more than flash.

Estimated career salary progression (rounded)

• Rookie deal & early extensions: set foundational earnings

• Indiana sign-and-trade contract: vaulted him into eight figures annually

• Boston/Portland seasons: sustained high-tier veteran pay

• Final camp contract: nominal impact on lifetime total

Bottom line: consistently trusted minutes and a premium on guard playmaking/efficiency turned a second-round bet into nine-figure security.

The résumé: from historic ROY to elite bench engine

Brogdon’s story can be told through two awards that rarely belong to the same player. In 2017, he became the first non-first-round pick since 1966 to win Rookie of the Year—a validation of polished decision-making and defensive feel. Six years later, in Boston, he claimed Sixth Man of the Year (2023), thriving as a downhill guard who punished second units and closed games when needed. The bridge between those milestones was classic Brogdon: efficient drives, foul-line accuracy, secondary playmaking, and the willingness to defend up a position.

Across stops in Milwaukee, Indiana, Boston, Portland, and Washington, he wore the same calling card—calm, control, and coachable fit—regardless of usage. That portability is why contenders kept calling.

What his exit means for teams and the market

For New York, the immediate effect is rotational: one fewer seasoned ball-handler behind an All-Star point guard. League-wide, Brogdon’s decision subtly tightens the veteran guard market—particularly for teams seeking high-IQ second-unit organizers who can close. Expect contenders to probe trades or short-term signings to replicate the profile: sturdy frame, paint pressure without turnovers, reliable catch-and-shoot, and late-game composure. Those qualities don’t trend on highlight reels, but they swing playoff minutes.

Legacy check: the value of “boring good”

Brogdon’s game was never built for nightly viral clips. Instead, he specialized in winning the gray areas: strong-side spacing that keeps actions clean, timely drives that bend help, and grown-man defense on bigger guards. Teammates and coaches bank on that. So do cap sheets. His earnings underscore a simple truth about the NBA economy: reliability is a premium skill. Brogdon maximized it, and cashed it in—without needing endorsements or a marquee market to carry the narrative.

What comes next for Brogdon

Retirement at 32 leaves ample room for a second act. Given his reputation for maturity, community work, and articulate advocacy dating back to Virginia, he profiles as a natural fit for media, union leadership roles, front-office pathways, or philanthropic expansion. If he ever flirts with a comeback, the phone will ring. But for now, he exits with financial security, two signature awards, and the rare dignity of deciding the ending himself.

Snapshot: Malcolm Brogdon’s career at a glance

• Drafted: 36th overall (2016)

• Awards: Rookie of the Year (2017), Sixth Man of the Year (2023)

• Teams: Bucks, Pacers, Celtics, Trail Blazers, Wizards; camp stint with Knicks

• Career earnings: ~$133 million in NBA salary

• Calling card: Efficiency, poise, and playoff-ready decision-making

From ROY to Sixth Man, from second-rounder to nine-figure earner, Brogdon leaves the league exactly as he played it—quietly, effectively, and on his terms.