The 2025 NBA Drafthas arrived, and with it, fans are raising questions about the financial implications for the newly selected NBA players.
Each year, the NBA welcomes a new generation of talent through the Draft, raising key questions about the future of these young players-especially how much they will earn as they begin their professional careers. A rookie’s salary in the NBA is not only determined by their talent but also by their draft position and the salary regulations set by the collective bargaining agreement.
How much will the number one pick in the NBA draft make for the 2025/26 season?
The NBA’s rookie wage scale, established through collective bargaining agreements with the NBA Players Association, dictates the salaries for incoming players.
This system ensures a structured approach to compensation, preventing the kind of extravagant rookie deals that were common before its introduction in 1995.
Back then, top picks like Glenn Robinson could negotiate multi-million dollar contracts, prompting the need for salary caps specific to rookies.
For the upcoming 2025/26 season, the number one overall pick is projected to earn approximately $13.8 million.
This figure is part of a structured contract that typically spans three years, with a team option for a fourth year.
Over the course of their contract, rookies see incremental salary increases, culminating in a significant boost by the fourth year if the team exercises the option.
Full NBA rookie pay scale for 2025
The scale of salaries decreases as you move down the draft order, with the 30th pick projected to earn around $2.7 million annually.
This tiered approach ensures that higher picks receive higher initial salaries, reflecting their draft position and potential impact on the team.
It’s important to note that while these figures represent averages and estimates, the NBA’s CBA allows for some flexibility in contract negotiations.
Rookies can sign for anywhere between 80% to 120% of the designated salary figure, depending on their draft position and negotiation leverage.
Typically, higher draft picks are able to secure contracts closer to the 120% mark, whereas lower picks might negotiate closer to the 80% threshold.
Unlike first-round picks, second-round draft selections are not bound by the rookie wage scale.
These players negotiate contracts independently with their teams, often on less guaranteed terms and with salaries that reflect their second-round status.
Here’s the average annual salary for the rookie season of each player picked in the 2025 NBA draft:
- $13,825,920
- $12,370,200
- $11,108,880
- $10,015,680
- $9,069,840
- $8,237,640
- $7,520,040
- $6,889,200
- $6,332,520
- $6,016,080
- $5,715,120
- $5,429,520
- $5,157,960
- $4,900,320
- $4,655,040
- $4,422,360
- $4,201,080
- $3,991,320
- $3,811,560
- $3,658,800
- $3,512,520
- $3,372,240
- $3,237,480
- $3,108,120
- $2,983,320
- $2,884,560
- $2,801,280
- $2,783,880
- $2,763,960
- $2,743,800
Read the full article here
