Minimum GOATs: The best players ever on the NBA’s base salary

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Full minimum seasons: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2018-19
Stats: 15.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 42.1 FG%

The little engine that could, Thomas captured hearts and minds all around the country as a star on the Boston Celtics. Before that, however, Thomas was putting up numbers for a bad Sacramento Kings team on a rookie-scale minimum after being the last pick of the 2011 NBA draft.

The 5-foot-9 Thomas had an illustrious run with the Kings, including making the All-Rookie 2nd Team and becoming the shortest player ever to record a triple-double. Thomas endeared himself to fans by advocating at City Council meetings for the Kings to stay in Sacramento, and he outshone his far more hyped draftmate Jimmer Fredette with his performance on the court. There was nothing quite like him in the NBA, a little man who threw himself headfirst at the rim and climbed seven-footers like so many trees.

The Kings ultimately chose to move Thomas to Phoenix, signing and trading him on a four-year, $27 million contract to the Suns. Thomas, of course, went from Phoenix to Boston in short order, where he became the “King of the Fourth.” Unfortunately, after warning the Celtics that they’d “better bring out the Brinks truck” for his next contract, Thomas suffered a hip injury that derailed his career, and despite bouncing around several teams, he’s never been able to find a landing spot.

For all his production, Thomas landed a spot on HoopsHype’s most underpaid players of all time.