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How Much Will Victor Wembanyama Make in NBA? All The Details About Rookie Contracts
Edwin Kiplagat
updated at June 23, 2023 at 1:03 PM
- The 2023 NBA Draft is done and as everyone expected, Victor Wembanyama went No. 1
- First-round picks are set to land lucrative contracts as they begin their NBA journeys
- Sports Brief breaks down the contracts and salaries of rookies in the 2023 NBA Draft
After months of hype from the media and basketball fans, Victor Wembanyama was finally selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
It was a formality as no one expected the five-time NBA champions to pass on the 7-foot-4 generational talent.
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As the No. 1 pick, the 19-year-old French phenom is expected to get a lucrative contract. He is expected to be paid $50 million over four years as he begins his journey in the big leagues. The other top draft picks also get sizeable amounts over the four years.
So what does a rookie contract in the NBA look like? Here's a breakdown.
NBA rookie contracts explained
Shortly after the draft, the rookies and teams will enter negotiations, which are brief, as there's a rookie scale set before each season. Rookie scales are different based on the salary cap. Draft position also plays a key role in determining how much money they will earn.
NBA teams will sign rookies for any amount between 80 percent and 120 percent of the figure given on the rookie scale, per Sporting News.
How much will Wembanyama make?
Based on the rookie scale, Wembanyama could earn as much as $12.2 million in his first season. Based on salary cap projections ($136 million), the young French star's on-court earnings could be as much as $55.2 million over four years. In the NBA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the first two years are guaranteed.
Moreover, because of his hype, Wembanyama could make much more off the court. For instance, he's already a Nike athlete.
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2022 No. 1 pick, Paulo Banchero earned $11.6 million as a rookie, while 2021 No. 1 pick, Cade Cunningham made $10 million.
Salaries and contracts for 2023
The No. 1 pick obviously gets more money than any other rookie. Every other slot in the first round has a diminishing value, meaning the total amount decreases as you go down the picks, per Forbes.
Pick | Selection | Team | Rookie season contract | Four-year deal |
1 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | $12,200,000 | $55,200,000 |
2 | Brandon Miller | Charlotte Hornets | $10,900,000 | $49,400,000 |
3 | Brandon Miller | Portland Trail Blazers | $9,800,000 | $44,400,000 |
4 | Amen Thompson | Houston Rockets | $8,800,000 | $40,000,000 |
5 | Ausar Thompson | Detroit Pistons | $8,000,000 | $36,200,000 |
6 | Anthony Black | Orlando Magic | $7,200,000 | $32,900,000 |
7 | Bilal Coulibaly | Indiana Pacers | $6,600,000 | $30,100,000 |
8 | Jarace Walker | Washington Wizards | $6,100,000 | $27,600,000 |
9 | Taylor Hendricks | Utah Jazz | $5,600,000 | $25,300,000 |
10 | Cason Wallace | Dallas Mavericks | $5,300,000 | $24,100,000 |
11 | Jett Howard | Orlando Magic | $5,000,000 | $23,200,000 |
12 | Dereck Lively II | Oklahoma City Thunder | $4,800,000 | $22,300,000 |
13 | Gradey D | Toronto Raptors | $4,500,000 | $21,400,000 |
14 | Jordan Hawkins | New Orleans Pelicans | $4,300,000 | $20,600,000 |
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Wembanyama has a lot of expectation on him, and it will be interesting to see how he settles and performs in the NBA in his rookie season.
San Antonio select Wembanyama
Sports Brief earlier reported on San Antonio Spurs selecting Victor Wembanyama as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Wembanyama joins a young team in San Antonio that already includes Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Tre Jones, and Malaki Branham.
He will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow No. 1 picks David Robinson and Tim Duncan, who led the Spurs to several championships during their stints with the franchise.
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