How Much Do NBA G League Players Make?

When did you become a basketball fan? Was it since the day you could throw a ball through a hoop? Maybe you have even thought about going pro and joining the NBA G League once you graduate high school. With money being a great motivator, one of the questions that has constantly been going through your head is, “How much does a G League player make?” Your research may not have been fruitful, but that’s okay. I’ve come up with a range of salaries you could earn depending on where you land. So, read on and decide which kind of player you’d like to become and how much you are likely to make.

A Little Background on the NBA G League

Before you learn how much you could earn if you ended up in the NBA G League, how about knowing more about it? NBA G League is the NBA’s official minor league. It was once named the NBA Development League (NBA D League ). However, after Gatorade became its official sponsor in 2017, it changed to NBA G League with “G” representing Gatorade.

The G League is crucial to the NBA because, through it, players, officials, coaches, and even front-office staff nurture their skills to become professionals who can transition smoothly to the NBA. It currently has 31 teams, of which 29 are direct affiliates of NBA franchises. This arrangement permits players from the NBA teams to be assigned to G League affiliates for more time on the court and additional development.

How Much Do G League Players Make?

The amount each G League player takes to the bank differs based on experience and other qualifications such as performance and contracts one gets. Always remember that one has to start somewhere.

• Draft Rights Players

On an estimate, the average minimum salary for draft rights players is set at $40,500, which is $6,750 a month during a regular six-month season. However, this amount is the minimum for players in tier 1. There are four tiers, and each level offers players a different salary. The last level is tier 4, where players earn the least as they bank $14,000. Next is tier 3, where players can take home at least $19,500 while those in tier 3 pocket $25,000.

• Two-Way Contract Players

The salary could also depend on other factors, such as if a player has been selected to sign up for the Two-Way Contract. It allows those already in the NBA G League to also be on the roster for the NBA team. This option began in the 2017 offseason, so NBA rosters expanded from 15 players to 17, giving room for each team to have two Two-Way Contract players. This contract aims to develop players with less than four years of experience.

Being a Two-Way Contract player has its perks. While NBA G League players pocket between $40,000 and $79,000, playing in both teams means pocketing more. A Two-Way Contract player can earn more than $500,000, exclusive of incentives. However, such players receive only one salary for the entire duration they spend in both leagues, and they can only sign up for a maximum of two seasons. They also can only play in a maximum of 50 NBA games during their contract and can’t participate in playoffs.

• Select Players

Some players sign a contract after graduating high school, choosing to join Ignite instead of going to college. Such players are known as G League Select players, and they earn more than the average player. Select players must be at least 18 years old, and these talented athletes receive a fair share of compensation for opting to be in the NBA G League. They usually pocket at least $125,000 per season, although this amount can vary depending on the contract.

On the other hand, some players have displayed their prowess on the court and can earn call-ups to NBA teams. Such players receive handsome pay for every day they are with the NBA team since they make $5,820, which is an addition to what the NBA G League pays them as a salary.

• Assignees

Sometimes, an NBA team can send one of its players in the big-league roster to its affiliate in the NBA G League for a specific period. Such assignees usually have spent three years in the NBA, but they may need a bit of rehabilitation, discipline, or further development. An NBA player assigned to an NBA G League team will most likely continue receiving his salary. Since he is still under contract with that team, another team won’t be able to recall him.

• Exhibit 10 Bonus Clause

An NBA team can sign players to Exhibit 10 bonuses, meaning they can convert them to Two-Way Contract players. If a player signs the Exhibit 10 bonus, he can receive up to $50,000 as a bonus if he continues to stay in the G League for at least 60 days. If he becomes a Two-Way Contract player, the bonus turns into a salary guaranteed up to that amount. If the team then waives the player shortly after he becomes a Two-Way Contract player, the bonus is his entitlement. Such clauses are placed in contracts to act as incentives for players to stick with their NBA G League teams.

How Much Does the Highest-Paid G League Player Make?

Jalen Green was the highest-paid G League player during the 2020-2021 season when he earned $500,000. However, Scoot Henderson made double when he received $1 million for choosing the NBA G League pathway in the 2021-2023 seasons. London Johnson reportedly exceeded the $1 million mark in the 2022-24 seasons, but another player overshadowed this salary. Dink Pate became the youngest American-born pro basketball player at 17 when he signed with Ignite. Allegedly, he also became the highest-paid G League player upon signing a two-year contract with G League Ignite. The exact earnings figure is unknown, but it must have surpassed whatever Johnson banked.

Parting Shot

As much as joining the NBA G League is enticing due to the mouthwatering salaries, you must prove you are up to the task. If you are ready to stay productive throughout the season despite the long nights and rigorous training schedules, this could be your calling. Take a chance and get drafted. You never know – you could be earning millions of dollars at 18.