Indiana basketball: 8 Hoosiers in NBA will make $68 million this year

Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers tops the list at $21 million per year for former Hoosiers currently playing in the NBA

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The NBA season started on Tuesday night, and there are eight former Indiana Hoosiers on opening-night rosters in the league.

And they are getting paid. Combined, they will make a whopping $68 million this year.

Yep, you read that right. And that's $68,356,038 to be exact, according to Basketball-Reference.com.

Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers is the highest-paid former Hoosier. He's scheduled to make $21 million this season. If that sounds like a lot — and it is — you'll be surprised to know that he's only the 49th highest-paid player in the league, which is flush with money these days.

Eric Gordon and Cody Zeller on next on the list. Here's where our Hoosiers are playing this year, with a quick look at what they're making, what's expected of them, and what they did at IU

1. Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers ($21,000,000) 

• Played at IU: Spent three seasons in Bloomington from 2010 to 2013. He was named the Sporting News National Player of the Year in 2013.
  
• Years in NBA: Starting his seventh season. Was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft by Orlando and spent three years with the Magic and one in Oklahoma City before coming to the Indiana Pacers in 2017. He was an all-star with the Pacers that year, and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.
• Current salary: $21-million. He is in the third year of a 4-year, $84-million contract. He will also make $21 million next season, and the Pacers' top player is likely due for a huge raise after that.
• The skinny: Oladipo is currently recovering from a ruptured quad tendon sustained last season, where he played only 36 games. He's expected to return to the Pacers in about a month.

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) is guarded by Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

2. Cody Zeller, Charlotte Hornets ($14,471,600)

• Played at IU: Spent two seasons in Bloomington from 2011 to 2013. He was a second-team All-American in 2013.
  
• Years in NBA: Zeller is starting his seventh season in the NBA. He was the No. 4 overall pick by Charlotte in 2013 and has spent in entire career with the Hornets. He made the NBA all-rookie team in 2014.
• Current salary: $14,471,600. Zeller is in the third year of a 4-year, $56 million contract. He's scheduled to make just over $15 million next year.
• The skinny: Zeller is the starting center for Charlotte. He had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Hornets' opening night victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

3. Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets ($14,057,730)

• Played at IU: Played one season for Kelvin Sampson in 2007-08. Was Big Ten Freshman of the year and a third-team All-American. 
• Years in NBA: Starting his 12th season in the league and his fourth with the Houston Rockets. Played three years for the Los Angeles Clippers and five years in New Orleans.
• Current salary: $14,057,730. Gordon is in the final year of a 4-year, $52 million contract, but has already signed an extension for a deal that will pay him more than $75 million over four years through 2024. It's the largest contract ever signed by an Indiana player.
• The skinny: Gordon has been one of the best sixth-men in the NBA for years and is a key piece of a Houston team with goals of winning an NBA title this year. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2017. The Rockets open their season Thursday night 

Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) brings the ball upcourt against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter in game five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

4. Thomas Bryant, Washington Wizards ($7,936,508)

• Played at IU: Bryant played two seasons at Indiana from 2015 to 2017. 
  
• Years in NBA: Starting his third season in the NBA. He was drafted in the second round in 2017 by the Utah Jazz, but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He played only 15 games for the Lakers and was later waived. He was signed by the Washington Wizards and had a great first year with them, averaging 10.5 points per game.
• Current salary: $7, 936,508. He signed a 3-year, $25 million contract with the Wizards this summer.
• The skinny: Bryant never really got a chance in LA, but he's been terrific with the Wizards, who took a flyer on him and it paid off. He got off to a good start this season, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 points in their season opener, a 108-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

5. Romeo Langford, Boston Celtics ($3,458,400)

• Played at IU: Langford played one season at Indiana last year. He averaged 16.5 points per game, the third-highest total by an IU freshman ever, behind only Eric Gordon and Mike Woodson.
  
• Years in NBA: After being selected with the 14th pick in the first round a year ago, Langford is in his first year with coach Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics.
• Current salary: $3,458,400. Langford signed a 2-year deal  for a little over $7 million, with 2 years beyond that available at a team option worth another $9.4 million.
• The skinny: Langford is battling a knee injury and missed the Celtics' opener on Wednesday night. He injured his right knee in the final preseason game, and is day-ti-day for now. 

6. Yogi Ferrell, Sacramento Kings ($3,150,000)

• Played at IU: Played four years at Indiana from 2012 to 2016. He is the all-time assists leader at Indiana.
  
• Years in NBA: Ferrell is entering his fourth season in the NBA. He was undrafted, and spent a brief time with the New Jersey Nets before moving on to Dallas and playing well. He was signed by the Kings in the summer of 2018.
• Current salary: $3,150.00. Ferrell is in the second year of a 2-year, $6.15 million deal with the Kings.
• The skinny: Ferrell only played four minutes for the Kings in their season-opener. he plays behind De'Aaron Fox and Cory Joseph. 

7. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors ($2,281,800)

• Played at IU: Played two years at Indiana from 2015 to 2017. He played well as a freshman but missed most of his sophomore season with a knee injury before turning pro.
  
• Years in NBA: This is his third season in the NBA, after being drafted by the Raptors with the No. 23 pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. He is the only active Hoosier with an NBA championship ring after the Raptors won the title a year ago. 
• Current salary: $2,281,800. He is in the third year of a 4-year, $9.75 million contract with the Raptors.
• The skinny: The spotlight is on Anunoby this season because he's in the Raptors' starting lineup now, replacing Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard. He had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the season-opening win over New Orleans on Tuesday night. This is a huge year for him to make a statement.

Brooklyn, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) moves the ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (00) in the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

8. Noah Vonleh, Minnesota Timberwolves ($2,000,000)

• Played at IU: He played one season at Indiana in 2013-14. 
  
• Years in NBA: Vonleh is entering his seventh season in the NBA. He was the No.9 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, selected by the Charlotte Hornets. The Timberwolves are his fifth team in seven years.
• Current salary: $2,000,000. He signed a 1-year contract with the Timberwolves in the summer. He has made more than $13 million in his previous deals.
• The skinny: Vonleh has bounced around a lot, but he's still in the league and still contributing. He played 14 minutes off the bench Wednesday night, scoring 2 points and grabbing 4 rebounds.