The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular and competitive professional sports leagues in the world. Every year, the league welcomes talented young athletes who are ready to showcase their skills on the court. These fresh-faced rookies are often signed to what is known as a “rookie scale contract”.

The rookie scale is a predetermined salary structure that applies to all new players who enter the NBA through the annual draft. The salary is based on several factors, including the player`s draft position, performance, and team payroll. The rookie scale was introduced in 1995 as part of the league`s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

For the 2020-2021 season, the rookie scale contracts will be as follows:

– The first overall pick will receive $9,757,440 in their rookie year, and their salary will increase to $40,166,800 over four years.

– The second overall pick will receive $8,983,160 in their rookie year, and their salary will increase to $36,845,320 over four years.

– The third overall pick will receive $8,229,240 in their rookie year, and their salary will increase to $33,687,720 over four years.

– The fourth overall pick will receive $7,571,760 in their rookie year, and their salary will increase to $30,917,920 over four years.

– The fifth overall pick will receive $7,025,760 in their rookie year, and their salary will increase to $28,901,160 over four years.

The rookie scale salary is considered a guaranteed contract, meaning that the player will receive the full amount regardless of their performance on the court. However, the team can choose to negotiate a “team option” or “player option” for the second, third, and fourth years of the contract. This allows the team or player to opt-out of the contract if certain conditions are met.

In addition to the rookie scale contract, players can earn additional income through various bonuses, such as performance bonuses, playoff bonuses, and endorsement deals. Most players also negotiate their own personal contracts with their team, which can include incentives based on their performance.

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