How Much Do NBA Bench Players Make?
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We all know that NBA superstars like LeBron James and Steph Curry make huge salaries, but what about the guys who ride the bench? How much do NBA bench players make?
Turns out, it depends on a few factors. For example, players in their first or second year in the league make a lot less than veterans. And players who are signed to multi-year contracts earn more than those who are signed to one-year deals.
But on average, an
NBA Bench Players’ Salaries
NBA bench players are some of the lowest-paid players in the league. The average salary for a bench player is around $2.4 million, which is less than half of what the average player in the league makes. However, there are some bench players who make more than the average player. These are the top five highest-paid bench players in the NBA.
NBA Bench Players’ Salaries by Team
Let’s take a look at how much NBA bench players make by team. We’ll start with the Atlanta Hawks, who have one of the lowest payrolls in the league. Their bench players make a combined $10.8 million. The Portland Trail Blazers have the second-lowest payroll, and their bench players make a combined $11.5 million.
The Utah Jazz have the highest-paid bench in the NBA, with theirbench players making a combined $17.3 million. The Houston Rockets have the second-highest-paid bench, with their players making a combined $16.6 million.
NBA Bench Players’ Salaries by Position
One of the most common questions NBA fans have is how much money do bench players make? While starters get the majority of the glory and the minutes, bench players play an important role in any team’s success. Here is a breakdown of NBA bench players’ salaries by position:
Point Guard: $2.67 million
Shooting Guard: $2.46 million
Small Forward: $2.61 million
Power Forward: $2.54 million
Center: $2.81 million
As you can see, NBA bench players make good money, especially when compared to the average salary in the league. However, it is important to remember that these numbers can vary greatly from year to year and from team to team. For example, a player on a minimum salary contract will obviously make less than a player who is making $10 million per year. Likewise, a player on a championship-contending team will often make more than a player on a rebuilding team.
NBA Bench Players’ Contracts
The NBA has a salary cap that each team must adhere to. For the 2019-2020 season, the salary cap is $109.14 million. So, how much do NBA bench players make? NBA bench players are the players who do not start the game. They are usually the second-best players on the team and come in during the game when the starters need a break. The average salary for an NBA bench player is $2.6 million.
NBA Bench Players’ Contracts by Team
The table below shows the annual salaries of NBA bench players for the 2018-19 season. The salaries are sorted by team, from highest to lowest.
| Team | Salary |
| — | — |
| Golden State Warriors | $7,737,916 |
| Denver Nuggets | $6,545,880 |
| Portland Trail Blazers $5,718,680 |
| Indiana Pacers | $5,663,364 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | $5,331,360 |
| Houston Rockets $5,245,852 Toronto Raptors $4,936,250 Boston Celtics $4,837,062 Los Angeles Clippers $4,811,130 Minnesota Timberwolves $4,773.3 Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ers Detroit Pistons Cleveland Cavaliers Orlando Magic Utah Jazz San Antonio Spurs Charlotte Hornets Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Atlanta Hawks evericks Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Chicago Bulls Phoenix Suns Los Angeles Lakers Sacramento Kings |
NBA Bench Players’ Contracts by Position
When it comes to NBA bench players’ contracts, there is a lot of variation. The average contract for a bench player is $2.4 million, but some players make much more than that. The highest-paid bench player in the NBA is Houston Rockets’ center Nene Hilario, who makes $8 million per year. Other well-paid bench players include Boston Celtics’ forward Jonas Jerebko ($5 million per year) and Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward Channing Frye ($7 million per year).
There is also a lot of variation in NBA bench players’ contracts by position. The highest-paid bench player at each position is as follows:
Point guard: Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs; $3 million per year)
Shooting guard: Jamal Crawford (Minnesota Timberwolves; $4 million per year)
Small forward: Kyle Korver (Cleveland Cavaliers; $7 million per year)
Power forward: Channing Frye (Cleveland Cavaliers; $7 million per year)
Center: Nene Hilario (Houston Rockets; $8 million per year)
NBA Bench Players’ Salaries vs. NBA Star Players’ Salaries
NBA bench players are vital to a team’s success, but they don’t always get the credit or recognition they deserve. They are often overshadowed by the star players on the team, but without them, the team would not be as successful. So, how much do NBA bench players make? Let’s take a look.
NBA Bench Players’ Salaries vs. NBA Star Players’ Salaries by Team
There is a big discrepancy in the salaries of NBA bench players and NBA star players. Star players are usually the ones who receive the biggest contracts, while bench players are often signed for much less money. This can create tension within a team, as bench players may feel like they are not valued as much as the starters.
The following table shows the average salaries of bench players and starters for each NBA team. As you can see, there is a big difference between the two groups. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers have an average salary of $6.4 million for their bench players, while their starters make an average of $17.2 million.
Team|Average Salary of Bench Players|Average Salary of Starters
—|—|—
Atlanta Hawks|1.6 million|7.7 million
Boston Celtics|3 million|10 million
Brooklyn Nets|2.9 million|9.5 million
Charlotte Hornets|1.5 million|7 million
Chicago Bulls|2.8 million|9 million
Cleveland Cavaliers|2.5 million|8 million
Dallas Mavericks|2.1 million|8 million
Denver Nuggets|2million |7million
Detroit Pistons |1 .9million |6 .5million
Golden State Warriors |3 .1million |11 .4million
Houston Rockets |2 .4million |8 .6million
Indiana Pacers |2 .3million |8 .7million
LA Clippers |3 .0million |9 .0million
LA Lakers |6 .4million |17 .2million
Memphis Grizzlies |1 .9million
NBA Bench Players’ Salaries vs. NBA Star Players’ Salaries by Position
Point Guards:
NBA bench players at the point guard position make an average of $2.4 million per year, while NBA starters at the point guard position make an average of $7.6 million per year.
Shooting Guards:
NBA bench players at the shooting guard position make an average of $2.1 million per year, while NBA starters at the shooting guard position make an average of $5.9 million per year.
Small Forwards:
NBA bench players at the small forward position make an average of $2.6 million per year, while NBA starters at the small forward position make an average of $7.3 million per year.
Power Forwards:
NBA bench players at the power forward position make an average of $2.5 million per year, while NBA starters at the power forward position make an average of $7.1 million per year.
Centers:
NBA bench players at the center position make an average of $2.9 million per year, while NBA starters at the center position make an average of $8.0 million per year.
