The Evolution of NBA Salaries: Role Players vs. Stars
The world of professional basketball has always been dynamic, with player salaries reflecting the ever-growing popularity and revenue of the NBA. However, recent trends show a puzzling shift: role players are being paid at levels traditionally reserved for stars. This phenomenon raises the question: why are role players earning more than some of the best players on their teams? To fully understand this, we need to examine the changes in the NBA salary cap and the league’s financial landscape.
Case Study: Oklahoma City Thunder
One of the most striking examples of this salary conundrum can be seen with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team’s second-highest-paid player is Isaiah Hartenstein, who earns a substantial $30 million annually. This figure dwarfs the salaries of some of the Thunder’s key players, such as Chet Holmgren and Jaylen Williams, who earn $10.8 million and $4.7 million, respectively. Despite Hartenstein’s significant role in the team’s success, he is not considered a star player. In contrast, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the undisputed star of the team, earns $35.8 million, which aligns with his status as the face of the franchise.
This disparity highlights the growing trend where role players, particularly those in specific positions or with niche skills, are commanding high salaries. The Thunder are not an isolated case; similar patterns can be observed across the league.
The New York Knicks: OG Anunoby’s Payday
Take, for example, the New York Knicks. OG Anunoby, while a talented and versatile player, is not the Knicks’ star. However, his contract tells a different story. Anunoby is set to be the highest-paid player on the Knicks for the next five years, with his salary ballooning to $48 million by the 2028-2029 season. Meanwhile, the team’s true star, Jalen Brunson, will earn $43 million in the same season.
It’s clear that Anunoby, despite his valuable contributions, is not the first or even the second offensive option for the Knicks. In fact, his role could be seen as a fourth or fifth option in certain lineups. So, why is he being paid like a superstar?
Understanding the NBA Salary Cap
The answer to these puzzling contracts lies in the NBA’s salary cap system. The salary cap represents the maximum amount teams are allowed to spend on player contracts in a given season. Since its inception in 1985, the cap has steadily increased in response to the league’s growing popularity and financial success. In 1985, the cap was under $5 million, but by 2024, it had risen to a whopping $140 million. This significant increase has allowed teams to pay their players more than ever before.
What’s even more intriguing is the way the salary cap has spiked in recent years. From 2015 to 2023, the salary cap saw two major jumps, with a particularly sharp increase between 2023 and 2024, when it rose from $110 million to $140 million. These jumps are primarily driven by new TV deals and other revenue streams that have flooded the league with money. This influx has left teams with substantial budgets to fill, leading to role players being offered lucrative contracts that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
The Role Player Phenomenon: A Shift in Financial Strategy
One of the biggest consequences of this cap spike is that role players—once considered secondary pieces to the puzzle—are now being paid like stars of the past. In the 2015-2016 season, a player earning $25 million annually took up 35.7% of the team’s salary cap, which meant that they were likely the team’s primary or secondary star. Fast forward to the 2024 season, and the same $25 million salary only consumes 17.9% of the cap, allowing teams to pay role players more without hamstringing their finances.
For teams, this shift means they can spend more to retain critical role players—such as defenders, shooters, and veterans—who can help them contend for championships. Players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Orlando Magic, are seen as essential pieces for their teams, despite not being marquee stars.
Caldwell-Pope’s contract, which amounts to $22 million annually (around 17.7% of the team’s salary cap), is an example of a well-structured deal for a role player who provides significant value in specific areas, such as 3-point shooting and leadership. Teams are now more willing to invest in these types of players, knowing that their contributions go beyond the stat sheet.
The Overpaid Role Player Dilemma
Of course, not every high-paid role player lives up to their contract. Players like Bruce Brown and Kristaps Porzingis have been criticized for their inflated salaries relative to their actual production. Brown, for instance, signed a $23 million-per-year deal with the Indiana Pacers after helping the Denver Nuggets win the 2023 NBA Championship. However, he was quickly traded to the Toronto Raptors, leaving his large contract as a burden for his new team.
Porzingis, on the other hand, signed a deal worth $29 million annually with the Boston Celtics. While undeniably talented, his injury history and inconsistent play raise questions about whether he can justify such a large portion of the team’s salary cap. Porzingis occupies nearly 25% of Boston’s payroll, yet his reliability as a key contributor is far from guaranteed.
The Future of NBA Salaries
As the NBA continues to grow in popularity and revenue, we are likely to see even more role players being paid handsomely for their services. The salary cap is projected to rise even further, and teams will have even more money to spend. For fans, this might seem unfair—after all, why should a player who isn’t a star be earning so much? But the reality is that teams are willing to pay for every edge they can get, whether it’s a tenacious defender, a reliable shooter, or a veteran leader.
In conclusion, the current state of NBA salaries is a reflection of the league’s booming success. As long as the salary cap continues to rise, we will see more role players receiving massive contracts. While some may argue that these players are overpaid, the truth is that NBA teams have the money to spend—and they are choosing to invest in role players who can help them win championships.
