Who is the highest-paid G league player? A top 10 list

The G League or NBA G League is a minor basketball association. Despite being in a minor league, its players are quite adept. Some play under two-way contracts, which allow them to play for teams in both leagues. Dig in for a detailed analysis and learn about who the highest-paid G League player is.

How much does the highest-paid G League player make? Sports Brief has used reputable sources such as Spotra and the Hoops Geek to create this list of the highest-paid G League players, giving you, the reader, accurate and up-to-date data.

Who is the highest-paid G League player?

A 2023 Forbes report revealed that 15 out of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes are basketballers, making basketball one of the highest-paid sports in the world. Do NBA minor league players receive similar salaries? This article examines the remuneration of basketballers to determine who is the highest-paid G League player.

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Who are the highest-paid G league players?

Details of complete remuneration remain scanty; however, Sports Brief has compiled details of the highest-paid NBA G League players through available contract details. Scroll down for an extensive deep dive into who the most-paid G League players are.

10. Theo Pinson

• Full name: Theophilus Alphonso Pinson
• Date of birth: November 5, 1995
• Age: 28 years as of April 2024
• Teams: Texas Legends

According to Hoops Hype, the shooting guard received an annual salary of up to $1,968,175 from the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022/23 season. This made him the 385th best-paid NBA athlete and the 179th best-paid guard in the season.

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As of April 2024, his net worth is estimated to be around $2,849,143. His salary details at the Texas Legends are yet to be revealed to the public.

9. R.J. Nembhard

• Full name: Ruben Nembhard Jr
• Nickname: RJ
• Date of birth: March 22, 1999
• Age: 25 years as of April 2024
• Teams: Capital City Go-Go, Cleveland Cavaliers, Texas Christian

RJ is a guard who plays for the Washington Wizards affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. In 2022, he signed with the Cavaliers on a Two-Way contract that reportedly guaranteed him an annual salary of between $491,876 and $925,258. Details of his current salary at the Capital City Go-Go remain unknown.

8. Brandon Goodwin

• Full name: Brandon Goodwin
• Nickname: Goody
• Date of birth: October 2, 1995
• Age: 28 years as of April 2024
• Teams: Westchester Knicks, Charge Basketball, College Park Skyhawks, Iowa Wolves, Memphis Hustle

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Goodwin is a professional G League baller who currently plays for the Westchester Knicks, an affiliate of the New York Knicks. Although the terms of his contract with the New York Knicks' affiliate remain unknown, sources suggest that he had signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks. According to Hoops Hype, he signed a Two Way contract with the Atlanta Hawka that guaranteed him an income of $1.7 million in the 2021 season.

7. Brodric Thomas

• Full name: Brodric Thomas
• Nickname: Sandman
• Date of birth: January 28, 1997
• Age: 27 years as of April 2024
• Team: Ontario Clippers, Maine Celtics, Charge Basketball, Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Brodric Thomas is a number 30 guard who plays for the Ontario Clippers. According to Hoops Rumours, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the team that would have guaranteed him a bonus of up to $75,00. However, other sources, such as Spotrac, report that before becoming a free agent in October 2023, he had signed a year-long Exhibit contract with the Clippers that guaranteed him over $2,000,000.

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6. Chaundee Brown

• Full name: Chaundee Dwaine Brown Jr.
• Date of birth: December 4, 1998
• Age: 25 years as of April 2024
• Team: Baskets Oldenburg, Austin Spurs, South Bay Lakers

Former G League basketballer Chaundee Brown is a small forward who plays for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the Bundesliga. At the time of writing, details of his salary in the German team have not been revealed.

Prior to his move to the Bundesliga, he had signed a Two-Way contract with San Antonio Spurs that guaranteed him an average salary of $1,637,966, a contract that was waived in a day. In prior commitments to the team and the Atlanta Hawks, the small forward received between $5,318 and $925,258.

5. David Duke Jr.

• Full name: David Duke Jr.
• Date of birth: October 13, 1999
• Age: 24 years as of April 2024
• Team: San Antonio Spurs

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David Duke Jr. is the number 7 guard who plays for the San Antonio Spurs G League team, Austin Spurs. In October 2021, he signed a Two-Way contract with the Brooklyn Nets that guaranteed him a season's salary of $925,258. In the 2023/24 season, the guard reportedly receives a $395,708 annual salary, which makes him the 548th best-paid NBA basketballer, the 251st best-paid guard, and the 22nd best-paid athlete of the San Antonio Spurs in the season.

4. Jalen Green

• Full name: Jalen Romande Green
• Nickname: The Rocket
• Date of birth: February 9, 2002
• Age: 22 years as of April 2024
• Team: Houston Rockets, NBA G League Ignite, USA Men's National Team

Before joining the Houston Rockets, Jalen Green was a number 4 guard playing for Ignite. In August 2021, he signed a 4-year rookie scale contract of $40.8 million with the Houston Rockets. Reports by the Athletic also reveal that through a 2022/23 contract with Ignite, Jalen Green's G League salary was set at $1 million per season.

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3. Sharife Cooper

• Full name: Sharife Omar Cooper
• Date of birth: June 11, 2001
• Age: 23 years as of April 2024
• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

According to a February 2024 report by the G League, Cooper signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had previously appeared in 19 matches for the team's affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.

His salary at the Cavaliers, $103,550, reportedly makes him the 603rd best-paid NBA athlete, the 281st best-paid guard, and the 21st best-paid Cleveland Cavaliers player in the 2023/24 season. In the 2021/22 season, he received a $462,629 salary.

2. Sterling Henderson

• Full name: Sterling Jewell Henderson
• Nickname: Scoot
• Date of birth: February 3, 2004
• Age: 20 years as of April 2024
• Team: NBA G League Ignite, Portland Trail Blazers

Alongside Jalen Green, the guard is regarded as the highest-paid NBA G League player. According to the Athletic, Scoot Henderson’s G League salary was $1 million per season during his time at Ignite.

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At the time of writing, the point guard plays for the Portland Trail Blazers. In July 2023, he signed a 4-year rookie scale contract worth $44,363,603 that guarantees him $9,770,880.

1. London Johnson

• Full name: London Johnson
• Date of birth: June 6, 2004
• Age: 20 years as of April 2024
• Team: NBA G League ignite

London Johnson is a number two guard who plays for Ignite. Regarded as one of the best G League players of all time, the five-star point guard has played in 55 matches and accumulated 10.5 points. Based on Sports Brief’s research, Johnson is the highest-paid G League player currently. His contract with Ignite offers him a salary of over $1 million.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NBA G League? The official development league is crucial for preparing young talent, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA. Here are some interesting facts about who is the highest-paid G League player and the financial benefits of playing in it.

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1. What is the average G League salary?

According to sources, the unionisation of the G league prompted an increase in athlete salaries by up to $5,000 from $37,000 to $40,000 per season from 2021. This pay hike was accompanied by housing and insurance benefits.

Before the increase in 2018/19, development athletes received a monthly average base salary of $7,000 with additional bonuses. The New York Times reports that this pay accumulated to between $19,000 and $26,000. Basketballers on Two-Way contracts received heftier salaries of $385,000 in a season, while those on select contracts earned $125,000 in a regular season

2. How much did G League 2-way players make in 2021/22?

In the 2021/22 season, basketballers on a Two-Way contract received about 468,000. Basketballers on this contract include Sharife Cooper, Chaundee Brown, Brodric Thomas, Matt Ryan, David Duke, Scottie Lewis, Arnoldas Kulboka, Tyler Cook, Malcolm Hill, Brandon Goodwin, and RJ Nembhard.

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3. How much did G League 2-way players make in 2022/23?

In the 2022/23 season, league players reportedly received between $11,494 and $50,000 per season. Some of the basketball players who received $50,000 include Darius Days, Kendall Brown, Moussa Diabate, and Scotty Pippen Jr. Reports suggest that the season's athletes who had signed Two-way contracts could receive a prorated salary of $508,891.

4. How much does the lowest-paid G League player make?

The lowest-paid NBA G League player receives $7,400 every month or $37,000 in a season lasting between five and six months. Other sources report that the G League minimum salary is closer to $8,000 per month, translating to $40,000 in a season.

Final word

Who is the highest-paid G League player? Although they receive a lower remuneration compared to their NBA counterparts, the knowledge of the highest-paid basketballers in development teams and the amount they take home should not deter up-and-coming basketball players.

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READ ALSO: NBA G League salary: How much does a G League player make?

Sports Brief has published an article on the average salary earned by a G League player. Despite being able to play at the same level, basketball players in the G League receive a fraction of what NBA players receive. Click on the link above to find out just how much these basketball players receive.