The standard pay of a regular G-League player in 2021/22 is $37,000 for the 5-month season
In this article you’ll learn exactly how much players make in the NBA minor league:
Highest Paid NBA G-League Player
The highest paid G League players in 2021/22 were playing on a two-way contract earning them $462,629 (half of the rookie minimum)
An example of a player on a two-way contract is Sharife Cooper, who was on a two-way contract for the NBA Atlanta Hawks and the G League College Park Skyhawks
In previous seasons, the highest salaries were comparable
For the 2020-2021 season, the highest paid G League player was Jalen Green, who reportedly made $500,000 playing for the NBA G League Ignite
Green went on to sign with the Houston Rockets, with a salary of $8,992,080
Minimum Salary in the G-League
The lowest a G League player can earn is $7,400 a month, or $37,000 for a seasonal contract for five months of play
This contract will also cover housing and insurance, which are added benefits for all players
For many of the younger players, a primary goal of the G League is to prepare them not only for the NBA, but for life in general
Contracts and Salary Scale
Unlike the NBA, where players sign a contract to play with one specific team, players enter into a G League contract
Under this contract, players sign a one-year contract to play within the league, not on an individual team
The only exclusion to this is players that are on assignment or two-way contract from an NBA team
There are different categories of players in the NBA G-League with different type of contracts:
G League Drafted Players
Salary: $37,000 per season
These players get a contract with the G-League for $37,000 for the 5-month season
Since they don’t sign a contract with any specific team, they are eligible to be called up to the NBA anytime during the season by any NBA team
Salary: Starts from $125,000 per season
These contracts are for players with elite skills who choose not to attend college
It’s a way for players with NBA talent to stay in the US and develop close to home while still earning good money
Previously, players who didn’t attend college had to play overseas for a year (like LaMelo Ball or Brandon Jennings)
Examples of Select Players drafted in recent years are: Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd, Dyson Daniels, MarJon Beauchamp and Jaden Hardy
Salary: Starts from $502,000 in 22/23 (half of minimum rookie contract)
Each NBA team is allotted two roster spots for two-way players, who will spend the majority of their time playing in the G League
Only players who are in their fourth season of the NBA or earlier are eligible to be a two-way player
Under this contract, players are eligible to appear in up to fifty NBA games but are not eligible for the NBA Playoffs
Salary: Players keep earning the salary specified in their NBA contract, even when assigned to the G League
NBA teams are allowed to send players with less than three years of service to their NBA G League affiliates
The NBA team maintains the assigned player’s rights and can recall that player at any time
Young players that don’t see the court often with their NBA teams are often send to the G League to give them playing time and confidence playing against other professionals
Beginning in the 2017-2018 season, the league changed its name following an extended contract with Gatorade (hence the “G” League)
This league offers elite professional basketball competition for international prospects, undrafted players, NBA players on a minor league assignment, or NBA players that have been waived
This league also allows teams and coaches to scout talent and fill open roster spots with undrafted players or free agents
As a development tool, it allows players to maintain training, practice, and game stamina in a highly competitive arena
Secondly, the G League is a training tool, not only for the players but for every other position a team may need
It allows players to improve their game and also aims to coach them off the court in regards to housing, insurance, health, and money management
It is also a training too for coaches, office staff, officials, and trainers for a future in the NBA
Every team, whether it be in the NBA or in the G League, has a staff on the court, in the front office, and behind the scenes
In the 2021-2022 season, 41 percent of players on NBA start-of-season rosters had G League experience, and there was a record 45 percent in the previous season
Last year, every NBA team had at least one G League alumni playing for them
Oldest Players in the NBA – 2021/22 Season and in NBA History
The G League is the NBA’s official minor league organization that caters to the lesser-known basketball players
It gives younger rookies and veterans a platform to develop, train, rehab, and develop their skills for the big guns at the NBA
NBA G League is a platform reserved for players as coaches, but officials, trainers, and other staff also use it as a training phase for the NBA
There are 29 teams in the G League, each with an association with a significant NBA team except one which is the NBA G League Ignite team
Players in the G League do not sign contracts with the individual teams but rather with the league
Salary Scale of the G League
The salary of G League players depends on the contract they sign and the category they fall under
Players reserved for this contract are at least 18 years of age and are considered elite because of their skill and ability
The base pay is usually for five months when the season is active and does not include other incentives like call-up compensation
In recent times, this new select contract is primarily for players that do not attend college and instead choose to play in the G League
This includes a pro-rated portion of the minimum salary in the NBA, which was $582,000 in 2019
So, if it takes a player 100 max days to get to the level of $582,000 minimum salary, they’ll be making $5820 per day
Players categorized under this category usually are NBA players with at least three years of experience and are sent to the G League affiliate team for a period
NBA organizations typically have this player’s contract and can move the player as they wish, depending on what the organization needs
Players on the NBA assignment earn their regular NBA salary
Like the NBA, the G League also drafts players below 18 years under the draft’s rights division
These players that enter the G League Draft are yet to enter the NBA draft
Once the G League drafts them, the NBA cannot call them up during the season and, as such, have to stay at the G League till the season is over
Players in this category earn an estimated $7000 monthly, totalling $35000 for the five-month season
NBA Training camps usually finish up in October, and that is when NBA organizations typically select up to 4 players they want in their NBA G League affiliate teams
These players can advance to the leading NBA teams since they are in the G League
In addition, this category of affiliate players can make a maximum of $50,000 through some of the partial guarantees in the NBA training camp
In Season Affiliate Players
These categories of players are similar to affiliate players, albeit a critical difference
With in-season affiliate players, the NBA team waives them while the NBA season is still in progress
When NBA organizations waive a player, they can allocate or classify them with their respective G League affiliate and call them an in-season affiliate player
NBA teams generally have a maximum of four affiliate players at the beginning of a season, and this only applies to players that were part of the training camp before the running season
A Quick Summary of the Key Categories and their Salaries
G League Drafted Players (Basic Contract) – $7400 monthly
Assigned Players – Pro-rated NBA salary/NBA Salary depending on player’s contract
Two Players – Standard G League Contract of $7000/ Select Player pay of $125 000 + NBA Two-Player Pro-Rated Pay of NBA minimum contract
Players’ income could rise significantly to $400,000 when combining NBA time, two-way contracts, and other incentives in their agreement
What is the Average G League Salary?
G League salaries depend on your class and how you entered the G league
However, the average G League salary would stand at $35,000
However, some players would earn far more than this with a combination of contracts or on the level they are
The highest-paid player in the G League is Sharife Cooper making a sum of $462,629
He is on a two-way contract playing for the NBA Atlanta Hawks and their associated G League Team College Park Skyhawks
His college career was brief where he played just 12 games in his freshman year for Auburn before a left ankle injury became a hitch in his season
His two-way contract doesn’t give him a space on the 15-man regular season roaster of the Atlanta hawks
He will occupy the two-way slots making him eligible to appear for up to 50 NBA games
The highest-paid player in the G League last season is Jalen Green making a sum of $500,000
He plays for the NBA G League Ignite in the shooting guard position
Note: Green was selected by the Houston Rockets with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft
However, he decided to forego college basketball and instead join the G League and signed a one-year contract with NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team associated with the NBA G League
What is the Lowest G League Salary?
The lowest salary a player in the G League contract can earn is $7000/month
This is the regular amount in the Basic Contract for G League Drafted Players
This payment also covers other benefits like housing and insurance over the five months when the league runs
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G League is typically an opportunity for players that aren’t eligible for the NBA, and there isn’t a fixed cap for the number of players they can offer the select contract
Even though these players are not eligible to play in the NBA because they didn’t go through a draft, they are still offered salaries based on a scale
The highest-paid players in the G League are usually the most sought after or the best in a category coming out of high school
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From 2001 to 2017, the NBA’s development league served as a minor basketball league
NBA G League has gained good ground in the past few years because it is one of the considerable options for those high schoolers who do not want to attend college
So, considering the keen interest of young players in the G League, I am going to tell you about the details of the NBA G League Salary in 2023
Typically, NBA G League provides younger players with a platform where they can develop skills and make them strong technically under the supervision of coaches
Most of the time, official NBA players are assigned to coach G League players – however, they also deem it an opportunity to give good practice to their attacking and defending moves
Meanwhile, there are 29 teams in G League, and each team has an association with one of the official NBA teams
So, players are not bound by contracts with the individual team; instead, they contract with the league
All players who enter the contract with the league are on salary, and G League Salary is our topic of the day
Draft PlayersJalen Green’s G League SalaryHighest G League Salary in 2023G League Coach’s SalaryQuick Summary of Contracts and Salaries in NBA G LeagueFinal WordsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NBA G league Salary Scales in 2023
NBA G league Salary Scales in 2023
Players in NBA G League are not paid equally; instead, there has been introduced a scale system in 2023 is used to decide the salary of a player based on his skill
Usually, given scales are in-line that decide the salary of players in the G League;
Select players are recruited through “Select Contract” which offers a salary of $125,000 to every player
Players with a minimum age of 18 years are recruited in this category
This select contract has been primarily designed for players who do not want to attend college and want to join basketball as professional players in the future
However, there is an interesting fact that Jaylen Green earned $500,000 under a similar contract in years 21/22
Salaries of Two Way Players start from $502,000 in years 22/23 which is almost half of the amount of a minimum Rookie Contract
Each team in NBA is allowed to spot two seats for two-way players, and these two-way players spend most of their time playing G League
Players who are in the fourth season or in any earlier season meet the criteria of participating as two-way players in G League
Players bound with this contract can participate in fifty official NBA Games, but they are not allowed to play in playoffs
Assignment players keep on receiving their actual NBA salaries even when associated with G League
Each team in NBA can assign any of their players who has less than three years of experience to their NBA G League affiliate team
Most of the young players who often do not see the court are sent to the G League to help young players improve their skills and better their confidence against big guns
Affiliate players are referred to as those 4 players who are recruited by NBA organizations for their NBA G League affiliate teams
These players can move to NBA teams after being the part of NBA G league
Players recruited under this program can make a maximum of $50,000 and some of the partial guarantees in the NBA training camp are also inclusive
Under the Draft’s Rights Division, the NBA G League recruits players under the age of 18 years
However, the participants are yet to be selected for the G championship through drafting
Players drafted for the G championship cannot be called by the NBA unless the season ends
So, the total amount earned by draft players is $35,000 in 5 months
This is the lowest G league salary earned by players in the NBA G league
Therefore, in the NBA G League, players are recruited through the aforementioned contracts and earn their respective salaries
However, the followings are some more related information about G league salary that you should know;
Jalen Green’s G League Salary
Jalen Green, the American player who was recruited during the draft in 2020 was the highest-paid G league player
While being the part of G league he earned $500,000 before he made his way to NBA Side in the Houston Rockets team
Most of the players who become the part of G league find their way to the main championship
Highest G League Salary in 2023
Highest G League Salary in 2023
The highest G league salary in 2023 belongs to Sharife Cooper who has a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks and with the College Park Skyhawks which is the G championship affiliate of the former team
His NBA G league salary for one year is $462,629 which is the highest G league salary in 2023
G League Coach’s Salary
Coaches play a fundamental role in polishing and developing the skills and players recruited in the G league through different contracts
This is the reason that coaches are paid handsomely – the NBA G League coach earns a salary of $75,000 annually
Quick Summary of Contracts and Salaries in NBA G League
Have a clear and quick idea about the main contracts and their salaries in NBA G League:
Select players makes $125,000 with call up pay
Two-way players are the part of standard G league contract for $7000 per month, and $125,000 as a select player
Salary of two-way players might reach $502,000 annually when combined with NBA Time and other incentives
Assignment players are on attachment with G league team from their official NBA team – these players receive the similar salaries offered them as an NBA official team player
Affiliate player makes $50,000 with some partial guarantees
Draft players have the lowest NBA salary of $7000 per month that lasts for 5 months making the total amount $35,000 by the end of season
So, these are all details about salaries in NBA G league
Those who want to skip college, and enter some official league to play football, G league is for them
Salaries in G league aren’t the same for all players – there are different contracts, and each contract has its own components that contribute in deciding the total salary of a player
If you consider yourself good enough at the game, G league is a worthy option for you to pave the way for big leagues
What is maximum NBA G league salary?
Maximum NBA G league salary is earned by players recruited under two-way player contract
Their total salary is $502,000 per year
What is minimum NBA G league salary?
NBA minimum salary belongs to draft players who make $7000 per month for 5 months unless the season ends
So, the lowest salary in NBA G league is $35,000
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