Do NBA players get paid for preseason?
The first 2023/24 preseason games tipped off on Thursday but does everyone get paid in preseason?
Training camp started Tuesday for all 30 NBA franchises with the Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks locking swords at Etihad Arena in the first game of the 2023/24 preseason on Thursday (111-99). For the next couple of weeks, teams will be playing each other in a series of warm-up matches until the preseason comes to a close on 20 October, and the regular season tips off four days later on Tuesday 24th. The Mavs will fly out to Spain to take on Real Madrid as part of their preseason preparations, but will everyone on the roster be paid during the fortnight of friendlies and training?
Contractual situation
Much of that will depend on what kind of arrangement players have signed with their teams, which are varied and the terms in those contracts which on top of a base salary will include add-ons including bonuses, compensation, travel and accommodation expenses… etc. Some players have minimum, one-way salary contracts with no bonuses, others have guaranteed deals which means they will receive their salary, minus state and federal taxes, agent’s fees… etc all year round.
NBA teams are allowed a maximum of 20 players for preseason before their rosters are set and submitted to the league by 5 p.m. on 23 October.
Guaranteed contracts cover everything, which means players will be paid their monthly salary as normal during the two weeks of preseason. Players who signed partially-guaranteed or non-guaranteed contracts might not be so lucky although a few may be able to negotiate special deals with their teams. Most will receive a portion of their salary during the preseason, depending on what percentage deal they have in place and how many games they take part in.
Players on non-guaranteed contracts do not receive a salary during the preseason but do have their expenses paid for - a daily allowance of $127, plus $2,000 in camp compensation. While it might seem that the players on non-guaranteed contracts are losing out, the chance to get their foot in the door and be selected for the first team roster actually makes preseason worth their while. Those that make the roster will lose their camp compensation pay - it will be deducted from their first pay packet when it enters their bank account on 15 November.
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