Increased Playoff Bonuses
Players on teams that have made it to the NBA playoffs this season will receive an average bonus of $3.37 million, with each team receiving a corresponding bonus based on their progress in the playoffs. The bonus distribution for teams ranges from $452,700 to a potential $12.1 million for winning the championship.
Progressive Bonuses
As teams advance through each round, the bonuses gradually increase. The NBA also provides additional incentives for teams that finish first in the regular season. The Celtics, with a record of 64 wins and 18 losses, lead the league, and if they win the championship, players will receive a bonus of $804,000.
25% Increase in Playoff Bonuses
NBA playoff bonuses have increased by 25% compared to last year, a growth resulting from the new collective agreement effective from the 2023-24 season. The agreement states, “The amount of the players’ playoff bonuses for each Salary Cap Year shall be the greater of the following two amounts: $31,014,350 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the BRI for the Salary Cap Year immediately preceding the Salary Cap Year in question, and the denominator of which is the BRI for the 2021-22 Salary Cap Year; the players’ playoff bonuses for the immediately preceding Salary Cap Year.”
Significant Increases in Championship Bonuses
In addition to the NBA championship, playoff bonuses for each round have increased by 12% to 17%, and the championship bonus has increased by 79%, from $4.78 million to $8.55 million. NBA players’ postseason earnings far exceed those of NFL, NHL, and MLB players. MLB playoff bonuses come from postseason ticket revenue, which totaled $107.8 million last year. When the Guardians won their first World Series championship in franchise history, players split $38.8 million, with each player receiving $506,000.
High Average Salaries
The average salary for NBA players this season exceeds $10 million, with Stephen Curry earning the most at $51.9 million. At least 42 NBA players this season earned at least $30 million in salary, making playoff earnings relatively insignificant for these players. (Superace88)