What Is the Lowest NBA Salary in the Current CBA?
The lowest guaranteed salary in the NBA is the rookie minimum, set by the collective bargaining agreement. For the 2025-26 season, a player with zero years of experience earns a base salary of roughly 1.2 million dollars, which is the lowest possible contract under the current rules. This figure applies to players signed on standard rookie deals and is the floor below which teams cannot pay an NBA player on a guaranteed contract Forbes NBA salary cap breakdown.
Teams with limited cap space often fill roster spots with players at this minimum salary, especially late in the season when they need to reach the league's minimum roster size. The rookie minimum is lower than the veteran minimum, which is higher because it reflects a player's prior NBA experience and service time.
Who Is the Lowest Paid Player in the NBA?
The lowest paid player in the NBA changes every season as contracts expire and new rookies sign. In the 2024-25 season, several players earned the rookie minimum salary, including first-year players on small-market teams who were not yet on a two-way contract or a guaranteed deal above the floor Spotrac NBA salary data.
Because the NBA salary database is updated continuously, the exact identity of the lowest paid player depends on the latest transactions, signings, and roster moves. Players who start the season on a minimum contract but are later waived or converted to a two-way deal may drop out of the official salary rankings, while new rookies enter at the same floor.
How Does the NBA Minimum Salary Compare to Other Leagues?
NBA Rookie Minimum vs. Veteran Minimum
The NBA rookie minimum is the lowest salary a player can receive on a guaranteed contract, while the veteran minimum is higher and applies to players with at least one year of NBA experience. For the 2024-25 season, the veteran minimum was around 1.8 million dollars, compared with the rookie minimum of roughly 1.2 million dollars Hoops Rumors NBA salary cap data.
Two-Way Contracts and Their Salary Floor
Two-way players split time between the NBA and the G-League, and their NBA salary is pro-rated based on the number of days they are on an NBA roster. Even on a two-way deal, the NBA portion of the salary cannot fall below the rookie minimum for the days spent on the active NBA roster, which keeps the effective floor similar to the standard rookie minimum salary NBA official rulebook on compensation.
Why Small-Market Teams Rely on Minimum Salary Players
Small-market franchises with limited payrolls often use the rookie minimum and veteran minimum to fill out their roster without exceeding the salary cap. These players typically serve as backup guards, forwards, or defensive specialists who provide energy and depth rather than star-level production.
Bottom Line
The lowest paid player in the NBA earns the rookie minimum salary, which is set by the collective bargaining agreement and is currently around 1.2 million dollars for a player with zero years of experience. The exact identity of this player shifts each season as contracts, signings, and roster moves update the league salary rankings