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The 2022 NBA Draft will officially bring in a new class of talent to the league as teams look to land franchise-changing players. These players are also going to see their lives change, going into a completely different earnings bracket the moment they get selected. Here’s a look at the rookie salary scale for the 2022-23 season for first-round picks. Since second-round picks don’t get guaranteed contracts, there’s no set scale for those players.
2022-23 First Round Picks Rookie Salary Scale (via RealGM)
2023-24 Rookie Contract Scale
| Pick Number | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 (Team Option) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick Number | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 (Team Option) |
| 1 | $9,983,300 | $10,482,700 | $10,981,800 |
| 2 | $8,932,300 | $9,379,100 | $9,825,800 |
| 3 | $8,021,500 | $8,422,300 | $8,823,600 |
| 4 | $7,232,000 | $7,593,700 | $7,955,500 |
| 5 | $6,549,100 | $6,876,300 | $7,203,800 |
| 6 | $5,948,200 | $6,245,600 | $6,543,200 |
| 7 | $5,430,000 | $5,701,700 | $5,972,900 |
| 8 | $4,974,500 | $5,223,400 | $5,472,100 |
| 9 | $4,572,600 | $4,801,500 | $5,030,000 |
| 10 | $4,344,000 | $4,561,100 | $4,778,200 |
| 11 | $4,126,800 | $4,333,200 | $4,539,700 |
| 12 | $3,920,600 | $4,116,700 | $4,312,800 |
| 13 | $3,724,400 | $3,910,800 | $4,097,000 |
| 14 | $3,538,500 | $3,715,300 | $3,892,400 |
| 15 | $3,361,200 | $3,529,300 | $3,697,300 |
| 16 | $3,193,300 | $3,353,000 | $3,512,800 |
| 17 | $3,033,500 | $3,185,200 | $3,336,900 |
| 18 | $2,882,000 | $3,025,900 | $3,170,100 |
| 19 | $2,752,200 | $2,889,700 | $3,027,600 |
| 20 | $2,642,000 | $2,774,100 | $2,905,900 |
| 21 | $2,536,300 | $2,663,200 | $2,790,100 |
| 22 | $2,435,000 | $2,556,700 | $2,678,400 |
| 23 | $2,337,700 | $2,454,700 | $2,571,200 |
| 24 | $2,244,300 | $2,356,400 | $2,468,700 |
| 25 | $2,154,200 | $2,261,800 | $2,369,900 |
| 26 | $2,082,900 | $2,186,900 | $2,291,100 |
| 27 | $2,022,800 | $2,124,000 | $2,225,300 |
| 28 | $2,010,200 | $2,111,100 | $2,211,400 |
| 29 | $1,995,800 | $2,095,500 | $2,195,400 |
| 30 | $1,981,300 | $2,080,200 | $2,179,600 |
Players can sign for anywhere from 80% to 120% of this scale. That means the No. 1 overall pick can sign for anywhere between $7.271 million and 10.907 million for that first year. That percentage would carry over to the remaining years.
The fourth-year team option salary is determined by the team option value for the third year. It’s a set percentage increase detailed below. The fifth year for first-round picks is actually a qualifying offer, which is a precursor to restricted free agency. That amount is determined using a set percentage increase from the fourth-year team option.
2022-23 First Round Picks Year 4 and 5 Salary Determinations (via Real GM)
Increases in Year 4 and 5 for Rookie Scale
| Pick Number | 4th year option: % increase over Year 3 | Qualiying Offer: % increase over 4th year |
|---|---|---|
| Pick Number | 4th year option: % increase over Year 3 | Qualiying Offer: % increase over 4th year |
| 1 | 26.10% | 40.00% |
| 2 | 26.20% | 40.50% |
| 3 | 26.40% | 41.20% |
| 4 | 26.50% | 41.90% |
| 5 | 26.70% | 42.60% |
| 6 | 26.80% | 43.40% |
| 7 | 27.00% | 44.10% |
| 8 | 27.20% | 44.80% |
| 9 | 27.40% | 45.50% |
| 10 | 27.50% | 46.20% |
| 11 | 32.70% | 46.90% |
| 12 | 37.80% | 47.60% |
| 13 | 42.90% | 48.30% |
| 14 | 48.10% | 49.10% |
| 15 | 53.30% | 49.80% |
| 16 | 53.40% | 50.50% |
| 17 | 53.60% | 51.20% |
| 18 | 53.80% | 51.90% |
| 19 | 54.00% | 52.60% |
| 20 | 54.20% | 53.30% |
| 21 | 59.30% | 54.10% |
| 22 | 64.50% | 54.80% |
| 23 | 69.70% | 55.50% |
| 24 | 74.90% | 56.20% |
| 25 | 80.10% | 56.90% |
| 26 | 80.30% | 57.60% |
| 27 | 80.40% | 58.30% |
| 28 | 80.50% | 59.00% |
| 29 | 80.50% | 60.00% |
| 30 | 80.50% | 60.00% |
As you can see with this sliding scale, the difference between going in the lottery and going at the end of the first round can have massive implications for a player’s bank account. All the first-round picks have this guaranteed scale, which makes the end of the round intriguing as the No. 30 pick gets this guarantee while the No. 31 pick has to play on a non-guaranteed contract as the first pick of the second round.