$500,000 is still chump change compared to the nearly $50 million Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will make this season. Therefore, the cash prize for winning the NBA Cup was underestimated in some cases because it was believed that it would not provide any additional incentive or motivation to the players.
Paradoxically, the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks won the second edition of the trophy provides excellent context to question this premise. The Wisconsin franchise has committed $193 million in salaries this year. However, this large amount condenses in the heavy weights the template. Actually up to nine players from the current one Roster of the Bucks – not counting those with dual contracts – will earn less than $25 million in the 2024 campaign. That means the minimum salary is based on their years of experience in the NBA. This range therefore extends from the three million that Delon Wright will pocket to the almost 1.1 million that corresponds to the rookie Tyler Smith, who was selected 33rd in the last draft.
Taurean Prince, who is making just $2.9 million despite taking over the starting forward position, reflected on the opportunity the NBA Cup title represented for the Bucks’ players before the finale against the Oklahoma City Thunder , also on an economic level.
“As you move up the bench, the contracts start to go down and you definitely want to win for the guys next to you as well,” Prince told the media. “This money could help these kids buy a house for their families or the car they wanted. “So it’s something bigger than just us.”
“There are many opportunities that we can take advantage of, not only for us personally, but also for our teammates. So we all have it in our heads. “We all know what this is about and what this money can mean for some.”
Obviously, the Bucks’ top priority has always been the title, and that was expressed by Antetokounmpo and Lillard in the days leading up to the final event in Las Vegas, a desire also shared by newcomers Tyler Smith and AJ Johnson. “You can see how the veterans are fighting for the trophy. It’s not just about the financial reward. His will to win speaks volumes about his competitive nature. We are motivated to become champions, be it in this tournament or during the NBA season. It’s important for us to win. As a team, we strive to win in every competition we participate in,” Johnson said.
But for some, aware of the volatile and short-lived nature of the NBA, winning the NBA Cup also represents an economic injection that allows them to imagine the future of their careers with a little more calm.
