Up in The RaftersDo NBA Players Get Paid Weekly? How NBA Salaries Actually Work
NBA players are not paid weekly. They receive 24 bi-monthly paychecks, on the 1st and 15th of each month. Here is exactly how NBA player salaries work.
No, NBA players do not get paid weekly. They are paid twice a month, on the 1st and 15th of every month, resulting in 24 paychecks per year. This schedule runs throughout the entire calendar year, including the offseason, and is governed by the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Short Answer: Bi-Monthly, Not Weekly
If you picture an NBA player checking a weekly paycheck like most 9-to-5 workers, that image is off. NBA players receive their salaries bi-monthly, on the 1st and 15th of each month, which translates to 24 paychecks annually. This structure is locked in by the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement and applies to every player on a standard contract, from a rookie on the minimum to a superstar on a max deal.
One of the biggest differences from many other sports leagues is the year-round nature of those payments. NBA salaries are paid throughout the entire fiscal year, while other leagues such as the NHL only pay their players during the regular season.
How the NBA Payment Schedule Works
The payment structure for NBA players is more nuanced than a single flat paycheck twice a month. Here is a breakdown of every major component:
Regular Season Salary
Each player's annual contract value is divided across those 24 bi-monthly pay periods. Whether a player is on a one-year minimum deal or a five-year supermax, the math works the same way: annual salary divided by 24.
Signing Bonuses
The only exception to the standard payment amount is if the player negotiated a signing bonus, which is paid in a lump sum at the onset of the deal. Players officially receive their bonuses at the start of the new fiscal year, in July. Signing bonuses can add up to 15% of a player's contract amount but come with specific rules regarding when they are disbursed.
Advances on Salary
Some players negotiate advances on their salary, which allows them access to funds before payday, but only under certain conditions set forth by league regulations.
10-Day Contracts
Not every NBA player is on a standard full-season deal. Players who sign a 10-day contract are guaranteed a pro-rated version of the minimum salary. Their pay is calculated based on how many days are left in the regular season at the time of signing.
NBA Salary Ranges: From Minimum to Maximum (2025-26)
Understanding how much players actually earn helps put those bi-monthly checks into perspective. The NBA salary cap for the 2025-26 season is set at $154,647,000.
Minimum Salaries by Experience (2025-26)
The NBA minimum salary for the 2025-26 season is $1,272,870 for a rookie. Players with at least one year of experience are eligible for a higher minimum salary, and minimum pay increases with each year of experience.
Years of Experience | Approximate Annual Minimum | Bi-Monthly Paycheck |
0 (Rookie) | $1,272,870 | $53,036 |
1 year | ~$2,048,494 | ~$85,354 |
3 years | ~$2,330,302 | ~$97,096 |
5 years | ~$2,612,109 | ~$108,838 |
10+ years | ~$3,630,000+ | ~$151,250+ |
Figures based on 2025-26 CBA minimums. Bi-monthly check = annual salary / 24.
Maximum Salaries (2025-26)
A player's maximum salary is generally determined by his years of NBA experience, so there is a wide gap between potential earnings for younger and older players.
Experience Tier | Max Annual Salary (Re-signing) | Bi-Monthly Paycheck |
6 years or less | $38,661,750 | $1,610,906 |
7-9 years | $46,394,100 | $1,933,088 |
10+ years (Supermax) | $54,126,450 | $2,255,269 |
Source: Hoops Rumors, 2025-26 maximum salary data.
What About the Playoffs?
Regular-season salaries do not increase during the postseason. Players earn their standard bi-monthly checks regardless of whether their team is in a first-round series or the NBA Finals. However, the league runs a separate playoff bonus pool that supplements player income.
Players on NBA playoff teams will divvy up $34.7 million in 2025, with each team receiving a chunk based on how far their teams go. The total is up $1 million from last year. Teams do not earn anything for the play-in tournament beyond their regular-season salaries.
The top six teams in each conference earn bonuses based on their regular season records, while the 16 playoff teams also receive a chunk of money from the playoff pool, increasing the value of their payout with each series win. That bonus money is divided among the players on each club's 15-man roster.
2025 Playoff Bonus Pool Breakdown (Per Team)
Round/Seed Bonus | Approximate Payout |
No. 1 seed in conference | $761,000 per team |
No. 2 seed in conference | $609,000 per team |
First Round exit | Smaller pool share |
Conference Finals | Larger pool share |
NBA Championship | Up to $12.4M+ (OKC example) |
For players who are not making superstar money, including rookies or those on veteran minimums, these bonuses can be game-changers. The more games a team wins, the bigger their slice of the bonus pool.
How Does NBA Pay Compare to Other Leagues?
The NBA's year-round bi-monthly payment schedule stands out from other North American professional sports leagues.
League | Payment Schedule | Offseason Pay? |
NBA | Bi-monthly (1st and 15th) | Yes, year-round |
NHL | Bi-weekly during season | No |
NFL | Weekly during season | No |
MLB | Bi-weekly during season | No |
This means an NBA player on a $10 million contract collects roughly $416,667 every two weeks, twelve months a year, not just during the 82-game season.
Are NBA Contracts Fully Guaranteed?
Yes, in most cases. Player contracts are fully guaranteed, even if the player sustains a sport-related injury. This is a major difference from the NFL, where the majority of contract money is typically not guaranteed. In the NBA, once ink is on paper, teams owe players their full salary barring exceptional circumstances outlined in the CBA.
The Role of the CBA in Player Pay
Every rule governing when and how NBA players get paid traces back to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Owners are required to spend at least 90% of the salary cap in any given season to ensure that players receive their fair share of league revenues.
The CBA also governs rookie contracts specifically. First-round draft choices are assigned salaries according to their draft position, with the first overall pick earning more than the second, and so on. Each contract runs for two years, with a team option for the third and fourth seasons, with built-in raises every year to compensate for increases in the average salary.
For a deeper look at how the NBA's financial system operates as a whole, including revenue sharing, the luxury tax, and the salary cap mechanics that shape every contract, check out our full breakdown: The Economics of the NBA.
Quick FAQ
Do NBA players get paid during the offseason? Yes. Unlike the NFL and MLB, NBA salaries are paid across the entire year, including the summer months. The 24 bi-monthly payments continue regardless of the time of year.
Do NBA players get paid extra for playing in the playoffs? Their base contract salary does not change. However, they receive a share of the league's playoff bonus pool, which totaled $34.7 million in 2025. The further a team advances, the larger that share.
What is the lowest paycheck an NBA player can receive? A rookie on the 2025-26 minimum earns $1,272,870 annually, which works out to roughly $53,036 per bi-monthly paycheck before taxes.
Can NBA players negotiate how they get paid? To a limited degree. Players can negotiate signing bonuses (up to 15% of contract value) and, in some cases, salary advances. The core bi-monthly schedule itself is set by the CBA and not individually negotiable.
Final Thoughts
NBA players are paid twice a month, on the 1st and 15th, across 24 annual payments. Those paychecks cover the regular season and offseason alike. Signing bonuses, playoff pool shares, and performance incentives add further layers to total compensation. Whether a player is scraping by on the rookie minimum or cashing a supermax check, the payment framework is the same: structured, guaranteed, and year-round.
Want to understand the full financial picture of the league powering those massive contracts? Read our breakdown of The Economics of the NBA and explore how NBA championship rings are valued too.
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