With the NBA’s salary cap set at $109,140,000 for the 2019/20 league year, the rookie scale has been set as well. The rookie scale locks in the value of contracts for first-round picks.
In every NBA league year, rookie scale amounts are assigned to each first-round slot, from No. 1 through No. 30. Teams can sign their first-rounders to as little as 80% of that rookie scale amount, or up to 120% of that figure. While that rule theoretically affords teams some flexibility, first-round picks virtually always sign contracts worth 120% of their rookie scale amount, and unsigned first-rounders have a cap hold worth 120% of their rookie scale amount.
Listed below, via Jeff Siegel of Early Bird Rights and RealGM, are the salary figures that represent 120% of the rookie scale amounts for 2019’s first-round picks. Players will sign for these amounts unless they accept a deal worth less than the maximum allowable 120%, which hasn’t happened for several years. Rookie scale contracts are guaranteed for the first two years, with team options on the third and fourth years.
Here’s the 2019 breakdown:
| Player | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion Williamson | $9,757,440 | $10,245,480 | $10,733,400 | $13,534,817 | $44,271,137 |
| Ja Morant | $8,730,240 | $9,166,800 | $9,603,360 | $12,119,440 | $39,619,840 |
| R.J. Barrett | $7,839,960 | $8,231,760 | $8,623,920 | $10,900,635 | $35,596,275 |
| De’Andre Hunter | $7,068,360 | $7,422,000 | $7,775,400 | $9,835,881 | $32,101,641 |
| Darius Garland | $6,400,920 | $6,720,720 | $7,040,880 | $8,920,795 | $29,083,315 |
| Jarrett Culver | $5,813,640 | $6,104,280 | $6,395,160 | $8,109,063 | $26,422,143 |
| Coby White | $5,307,120 | $5,572,680 | $5,837,760 | $7,413,955 | $24,131,515 |
| Jaxson Hayes | $4,862,040 | $5,105,160 | $5,348,280 | $6,803,012 | $22,118,492 |
| Rui Hachimura | $4,469,160 | $4,692,840 | $4,916,160 | $6,263,188 | $20,341,348 |
| Cam Reddish | $4,245,720 | $4,458,000 | $4,670,160 | $5,954,454 | $19,328,334 |
| Cameron Johnson | $4,033,440 | $4,235,160 | $4,437,000 | $5,887,899 | $18,593,499 |
| PJ Washington | $3,831,840 | $4,023,600 | $4,215,120 | $5,808,435 | $17,878,995 |
| Tyler Herro | $3,640,200 | $3,822,240 | $4,004,280 | $5,722,116 | $17,188,836 |
| Romeo Langford | $3,458,400 | $3,631,200 | $3,804,360 | $5,634,257 | $16,528,217 |
| Sekou Doumbouya | $3,285,120 | $3,449,400 | $3,613,680 | $5,539,771 | $15,887,971 |
| Chuma Okeke * | |||||
| Nickeil Alexander- Walker |
$2,964,840 | $3,113,160 | $3,261,480 | $5,009,633 | $14,349,113 |
| Goga Bitadze | $2,816,760 | $2,957,520 | $3,098,400 | $4,765,339 | $13,638,019 |
| Luka Samanic | $2,689,920 | $2,824,320 | $2,959,080 | $4,556,983 | $13,030,303 |
| Matisse Thybulle | $2,582,160 | $2,711,280 | $2,840,160 | $4,379,527 | $12,513,127 |
| Brandon Clarke | $2,478,840 | $2,602,920 | $2,726,880 | $4,343,920 | $12,152,560 |
| Grant Williams | $2,379,840 | $2,498,760 | $2,617,800 | $4,306,281 | $11,802,681 |
| Darius Bazley | $2,284,800 | $2,399,160 | $2,513,040 | $4,264,629 | $11,461,629 |
| Ty Jerome | $2,193,480 | $2,303,040 | $2,412,840 | $4,220,057 | $11,129,417 |
| Nassir Little | $2,105,520 | $2,210,640 | $2,316,240 | $4,171,548 | $10,803,948 |
| Dylan Windler | $2,035,800 | $2,137,440 | $2,239,200 | $4,037,278 | $10,449,718 |
| Mfiondu Kabengele | $1,977,000 | $2,075,880 | $2,174,880 | $3,923,484 | $10,151,244 |
| Jordan Poole | $1,964,760 | $2,063,280 | $2,161,440 | $3,901,399 | $10,090,879 |
| Keldon Johnson | $1,950,600 | $2,048,040 | $2,145,720 | $3,873,025 | $10,017,385 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. * | $1,290,960 | $1,717,981 | $1,782,621 | $3,217,631 | $8,009,193 |
* Okeke won’t sign his rookie contract until 2020/21.
* Porter will earn 80% of the rookie scale in 2019/20 and less than 120% of the rookie scale in future seasons.
How do these salaries get decided on? Like who thought “Oh no, it can’t be 9.757 mil. We gotta add $440 to it. Otherwise, it’s just chaos!” Why isn’t it just a flat $10 mill?
I always assumed it was tied to the salary cap, but I’m curious as well.
It’s a formula, but here is something on the specifics
link to cbafaq.com