All first-rounders sign 4-year rookie scale contracts. (2 guaranteed years + team options for years 3–4).
Final values vary between 80–120% of scale, based on draft slot and salary cap growth.
Scale Picks #1–10
Annual salaries range from ~$10 million down to ~$4.5 million in year one, totaling $40 million–$60 million over four years.
Here are some contract highlights from the top 10 and how much these rookies will earn from their first deals in the league.
#1 Cooper Flagg (DAL)
Cooper Flagg signed with the Mavericks at 120% scale, ~$62.7 million total (~$14 million in year 1).
Flagg is now on track to earning over $900 million in NBA contract earnings alone by the time he is 30 years old.
With endorsements, investments and the right off court business ventures, Flagg is on pace to not only becoming a billionaire in his lifetime, but also becoming one of the youngest billionaires in sports history.
Lebron did not join the billionaire club until he was in his 40s for comparison, a good snapshot into the impact of streaming, sports betting and the economy of sports in general.
Will we see the crash of pro sports contracts in the near future, likely not. In fact it is more likely that there are more billion-dollar contracts than not for top talent within the next decade.
#5 Ace Bailey (UTA)
Bailey reportedly will earn $41.2 million from his first NBA contract, after being selected 5th overall to the Utah Jazz. However, he will be losing ~$9 million due to falling out of the Top 3.
Bailey had denied his pre-draft workouts from both the 76ers and the Jazz, however Utah decided to draft the incoming guard anyhow.
Had Utah also decided to pass on the young guard, he would have lost 8+ figures in gross income.
Despite, being projected to be a top pick and is considered a top talent in the 2024-2025 draft.
Scale Picks 11–30
The pay scale after the Top 10 selection begins to taper, with projected 4-year totals of $20 million–$40 million, based on selection slot.
Here is an example of a player selected in the 11-30 range:
#16 Yang Hansen (POR)
Yung Hansen was projected to be a second-round pick, or even undrafted entirely, until an agent the world knows as Rich Paul came along.
Paul helped the fringe prospect to secure a first-round selection and millions of dollars he would have missed out on.
Hansen secures minimum first-round guarantee: at least $9.1 million over two years, up to $21.4 million over four, a substantial difference from if he had not been selected.
Rich Paul has quietly changed the entire game of recruitment from inside the league.
He has done this primarily thanks to the legalization of both NIL and collegiate sports betting, as well as has mastered the ability to garner attention for his clients.
2nd-Round (Picks 31–59)
Contracts are negotiated individually, often partial guarantees or standard two-way/Exhibit 10 contracts.
- Two-way deals: Up to ~$500K base salary plus G League pay.
- e.g., Mark Sears (MIL) signed a two-way deal.
- Exhibit 10 deals: One-year, non-guaranteed minimum salary with G League bonuses (~$50K–$75K).
- e.g., Samson Johnson (IND) signed an Exhibit 10.
Rookie Salary Scale Overview
- Contracts adjust based on the salary cap (estimated $154.6M for 2025–26), allowing first-rounders to earn 80–120% of the scale.
- Example ranges for top slots:
| Pick # | Year 1 Salary | 4-Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$10.5M | $50M+ |
| 5 | ~$6.9M | $30M+ |
| 16 | ~$3.5M | ~$14M |
| 30 | ~$2M | ~$9M |
Why the Rookie Contract Scale Matters Financially
- Draft position directly links to earnings: Top-5 picks nearly earn 3–6× more than late-lottery peers.
- Falling even a few slots costs millions: Ace Bailey’s drop from projected 3 to 5 cost him ~$9M.
- Second-rounders must fight for contracts: Many lack guarantees and rely on two-way or Exhibit 10 deals to climb.
Understanding these structures sets the stage for each player’s financial journey, your follow-up pages will detail individual guarantees, incentives, and upside.
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Next Reads
- Ace Bailey’s NBA Draft Fall Cost Him $9 Million
- How Rich Paul Got a Fringe NBA Prospect a $10 Million Contract
- Cooper Flagg Could Earn Over $1 Billion in Future NBA Contracts
- Paolo Banchero’s $239 Million Contract Extension
- NBA Salary Cap Explained
Credits
Written by: Aidan Anderson
Research and Analysis: Apostle Sports Media LLC
Sources: Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Spotrac, Bleacher Report, CBSSports, APSM Proprietary Analysis.
Featured Image: Public Domain / Instagram
Disclaimer: This article contains general financial information for educational purposes and does not constitute as professional advice.
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