I don’t know if this is true of basketball, specifically, but there’s been examples of players’ unions objecting to a deal. The ones I remember were in baseball and about restructuring a contract. But there’s definitely an unwritten rule that players shouldn’t take too much less than they’re worth in solidarity with other players (who would no doubt be pressured to make the same sacrifices even if they don’t have a billion dollar Nike contract).

It seems like there’s less pressure to follow that rule if a player is nearing retirement and chasing a first ring or has other goals. And the Lakers just drafted Lebron’s unproven son who recently had a heart attack. It’s gotta be unprecedented even if Bronny was a legit prospect before the health scare.