Do NBA Players Get Paid Weekly?
No one will deny that NBA players get paid a significant sum.
With the top-paid players getting paid over $200 a second, NBA players are some of the best paid and most compensated athletes in the world, especially as compared to their NFL and WNBA counterparts.
With the top NBA players set to earn nearly $50 million for the 2022-23 NBA season, many NBA players are often set for life and will be able to continue to live lavish lifestyles well-past their NBA prime.
And while many of us know that NBA players are well-compensated for their skills and time, few of us know just how they are paid.
That is why, below, we are going to review just whether or not NBA players are paid weekly and just how NBA players are paid by their respective team.
Top Paid NBA Players in the 2022-23 Season
Before jumping into whether or not NBA players get paid on a weekly basis, it is important to take a step back and understand just how much the top NBA players are set to earn in the 2022-23 NBA season.
Below, we are going to showcase the top-20 NBA player salaries for the 2022-23 season.
| Stephen Curry | $48,070,014 |
| John Wall | $47,366,760 |
| James Harden | $47,366,760 |
| Russell Westbrook | $47,063,478 |
| LeBron James | $44,474,988 |
| Kevin Durant | $44,119,845 |
| Paul George | $42,492,568 |
| Kawhi Leonard | $42,492,492 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | $42,492,492 |
| Damian Lillard | $42,492,492 |
| Klay Thompson | $40,600,080 |
| Rudy Gobert | $38,172,414 |
| Khris Middleton | $37,984,276 |
| Anthony Davis | $37,980,720 |
| Jimmy Butler | $37,653,300 |
| Tobias Harris | $37,633,050 |
| Kyrie Irving | $36,934,550 |
| Trae Young | $36,600,000 |
| Luka Doncic | $36,600,000 |
| Kemba Walker | $36,596,549 |
How do NBA Players Get Paid?
Now, while the above chart may seem oddly placed, it is important to be able to visualize just how much NBA players make when they do get paid.
And, just as with most full-time employees across the country, NBA players get paid according to the league’s standard paydays, which are on the 1st and 15th of each month, beginning on November 15th. The default paycheck system amounts to 24 paychecks over a one calendar year period.
This means, ultimately, that NBA players are neither paid weekly nor are they paid after each game.
Rather, as many salaried full-time employees, NBA players will receive a paycheck twice a month, on the 1st and 15th of the month.
Similarly, and again as with many salaried full-time employees, NBA players will often opt to receive their paycheck via direct deposit. Opting to be paid via direct deposit will help a player to ensure timely payment and remove the possibility of losing a physical check.
Top NBA Players Paycheck Amount
Returning to our original chart above, we can now divide the total compensation by 24, or the total number of days in the year in which an NBA player can expect to receive a paycheck via direct deposit.
Doing so, we can see just how much some of the top NBA players can expect to get paid on the 1st and 15th of the month.
| NBA Player | Annual Salary | Expected Paycheck Amount |
| Stephen Curry | $48,070,014 | $2,002,917.25 |
| John Wall | $47,366,760 | $1,973,615.00 |
| James Harden | $47,366,760 | $1,973,615.00 |
| Russell Westbrook | $47,063,478 | $1,960,978.25 |
| LeBron James | $44,474,988 | $1,853,124.50 |
| Kevin Durant | $44,119,845 | $1,838,326.88 |
| Paul George | $42,492,568 | $1,770,523.67 |
| Kawhi Leonard | $42,492,492 | $1,770,520.50 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | $42,492,492 | $1,770,520.50 |
| Damian Lillard | $42,492,492 | $1,770,520.50 |
| Klay Thompson | $40,600,080 | $1,691,670.00 |
| Rudy Gobert | $38,172,414 | $1,590,517.25 |
| Khris Middleton | $37,984,276 | $1,582,678.17 |
| Anthony Davis | $37,980,720 | $1,582,530.00 |
| Jimmy Butler | $37,653,300 | $1,568,887.50 |
| Tobias Harris | $37,633,050 | $1,568,043.75 |
| Kyrie Irving | $36,934,550 | $1,538,939.58 |
| Trae Young | $36,600,000 | $1,525,000.00 |
| Luka Doncic | $36,600,000 | $1,525,000.00 |
| Kemba Walker | $36,596,549 | $1,524,856.21 |
When Do NBA Players Not Get Paid?
While NBA players sign guaranteed contracts, essentially ensuring that they will receive the full amount of their contract within a specified amount of time, there are a couple of instances in which an NBA player will not be eligible to receive their paycheck.
The first, and perhaps most common, is via a suspension. As with most other sports, if an NBA player commits an on-court or off-court infraction which violates the terms of the NBA or the individual NBA franchise team, they may face suspension from the league.
And, during the time of suspension, the individual NBA player will not receive payment for their time.
As such, it is generally in the individual player’s best interest to not be suspended as doing so risks the overall amount of compensation a player can receive.
Similarly, if a player refuses to play or participate in their team’s scheduled games or practices, they may risk their overall compensation.
With, perhaps, the most famous player to do so being Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons in recent years, both players refusal to participate in either practice or team games made them ineligible to receive payment.
And lastly, and perhaps most interestingly, if an NBA player is injured in a non-authorized sport or activity, then they may also be ineligible to receive payment for their time.
While surprising to many, NBA players often have strict contracts which lay out a list of sports and activities which NBA players are barred from doing or partaking in due to the increased risk of injury.
Often aimed to prevent NBA players from injury, some sports and activities which may be banned include skydiving, football, racing, and other dangerous activities.
Additional Pay Opportunities for NBA Players
While the majority of an NBA players overall compensation comes from their salary, there are a few additional ways in which an NBA player can increase their overall annual compensation.
We’ve listed these additional opportunities below:
- Signing Bonuses – for elite players, many NBA teams will offer an initial signing bonus to incentivize a player’s signing to their team. Typically a percentage of their overall salary, a one-time signing bonus helps make certain teams more attractive to an NBA player.
- Performance Bonuses – similarly, some teams will provide yearly performance bonuses to certain NBA players. From reaching the playoffs to averaging over 25 points per game, NBA teams have a plethora of ways to incentivize maximum performance from their players.
- Sponsorships – and lastly, many NBA players will add to their total annual compensation by signing sponsorship deals with various brands and organizations. From Adidas to State Farm to Under Armour, NBA players can add several millions to their annual compensation package by signing sponsorship deals.
How do NBA Players Get Paid During the Playoffs?
Lastly, when it comes to whether or not NBA players get paid weekly, the topic of the NBA playoffs and Finals often enters the conversation.
However, the NBA playoffs and Finals often do not account for an NBA players overall compensation. As not all team’s and player’s make it to the playoffs, NBA teams stick to a 24-times a year paycheck schedule.
However, for NBA players who do make it to the playoffs, the NBA typically sets aside a small sum of additional compensation for players, from which NBA players who have made it to the playoffs will receive.