The NBA G League has quickly emerged from relatively anonymous beginnings to become an indispensable part of the way that modern dynasties are built. The growing prestige of the league and the money whirling around it have grown substantially during the last handful of seasons.
While some star-laden teams have often neglected their minor league affiliate, teams like the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors have often supplemented their roster by keeping some of their best young players down in the lower levels as they try to prove they can stick in the pros.
The G League can be a grind, however. Between players making a salary that is a pitiful fraction of what NBA players make on top of less glamorous playing and traveling conditions, the G League will help weed out those who don’t have the ability to become contributors in the NBA.
How much do NBA G League players make?
The minimum salary for the NBA G League is $40,500 for a 5-6 month regular season. Since the G League’s union was created in 2020, players have received $5,000 more per season. More prized prospects can receive bigger deals if the team really wants to bring them on.
The G LeagueIgnite has signed top prospects like Jalen Green and Scoot Henderson to “select contracts” worth as much as $500,000. While these are uncommon, it shows that the G League is willing to pay top dollar if it means they can bring some talented young players into the fold.
How much do NBA two-way players make?
Two-way contract players, who can play a limited number of games with the NBA team, will make around $559,000 this season. This number represents half of the league’s veteran minimum for a player without any prior experience in the NBA. Ron Harper Jr, Markquis Nowell, and Javon Freeman-Liberty signed deals like this.
What are Exhibit 10 contracts?
An Exhibit 10 contract pays a player up to $50,000 if they play at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate. A promising player could make around $90,000 when their G League base salary and Exhibit 10 contract are both taken into consideration.
Teams like the Raptors will typically use their Exhibit 10 contracts on players they have a particular interest in developing. This season, Toronto has former Texas Tech star Kevin Obanor and former Summer League standout Mouhamadou Gueye on Exhibit 10 deals to start the season.