Ex-NBA Player Still Getting Paid Nearly $7 Million By The San Antonio Spurs

Khem Birch was paid by the San Antonio Spurs during the 2023-24 NBA season.

Apr 16, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Raptors center Khem Birch (24) is helped off / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Khem Birch most recently played in the NBA during the 2022-23 season when he appeared in 20 games for the Toronto Raptors.

He averaged 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 59.4% from the field.

During the middle of that season, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs but did not play in a game for the franchise.

Right before the 2023-24 season, San Antonio waived Birch.

Since he still had money on his contract, the Spurs paid him nearly $7 million this year (h/t Spotrac and Sam Yip of HoopsHype).

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have waived center Khem Birch.

MORE: https://t.co/LEfLsjAgky

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 19, 2023

Birch has played six seasons in the NBA for the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors.

His career averages are 5.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per contest while shooting 52.0% from the field and 20.0% from the three-point range in 282 regular season games.

He has also appeared in 16 NBA playoff games (four starts).

Birch currently plays for Bàsquet Girona (a team in Spain).

Oct 2, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Khem Birch (92) poses for photos during / Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Spurs, they are a franchise that is in rebuilding mode and had a tough season.

They finished as the 14th seed in the Western Conference with a 22-60 record in 82 games.

Over their last ten games, the Spurs went 6-4 and were also in the middle of a two-game winning streak.

The franchise last made the NBA playoffs during the 2019 season when DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge were still on the roster.

That said, the Spurs have a bright future led by Victor Wembanyama.