The NBA G League will do away with its “A” and “B” payment tiers for the 2018-19 season, and instead raise G League salary to $7,000 a month for all players. It amounts to $35,000 for a five-month season, the league announced in a press release Tuesday.
Previously, players in the G League could earn an “A” salary of $26,000 per season, while players earning a “B” salary would earn $19,000 per season. Those on two-way contracts with an NBA team will still earn more than that.
The league indicated their salaries will be $77,250, prorated based on how many days are spent on their NBA G League roster while they will earn a prorated version of the NBA minimum contract for the days they’re called up to the parent team.
Additionally, G League players will continue to be eligible to earn what are called “affiliate bonuses,” which essentially mean they can earn a specific amount of guaranteed money from an NBA team by attending its training camp, even if they’re cut and end up on the team’s G League roster. The limit on these guarantees will remain $50,000.
This move is progress for the G League as it continues its journey to become a viable option for fringe players who would otherwise head overseas to make far more money. Those who really want to get paid without gambling on themselves will continue to head to China or Europe, but this increase at least puts G League salaries in line with what first round picks in the NBA’s eSports league are making ($35,000 a year).
For those who enjoyed the late-season journey of Andre Ingram with the Los Angeles Lakers, there are countless more G League veterans who have been toiling away for next to nothing.
And if they won’t get the same recognition, at least now these players will make a livable wage for their efforts.
