A max contract in the NBA is the highest salary a team can offer to a player, based on league rules and the player’s years of experience. These contracts are given to top players who are seen as key to a team’s success. The value of a max contract depends on the salary cap for that season and how long the player has been in the league.
Some players can even qualify for a “supermax” deal, which allows them to earn more if they meet certain achievements like winning awards or staying with the same team. Understanding how max contracts work helps explain why some NBA stars earn such high salaries and how teams manage their budgets.
What Is A Max Contract?
A max contract in the NBA is the highest salary a team can offer a player. It is given to players who are very skilled and important to a team’s success. The amount depends on the NBA salary cap for that season and how many years the player has been in the league. Max contracts help teams keep their best players and also attract top free agents.
How Contract Size Is Determined?
The size of a max contract is based on the player’s experience. Players with 0 to 6 years in the league can receive up to 25% of the salary cap, and players with 7 to 9 years can receive up to 30%.
NBA players with 10 or more years can get up to 35%. If the salary cap is $155 million, a player with over 10 years of experience could get around $54 million in the first year.
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What Is A Supermax?
A supermax contract is a special type of max contract for players who meet certain conditions. These include being named to an All-NBA team, winning MVP, or winning Defensive Player of the Year. A supermax can pay a player up to 35% of the salary cap and can last up to five years. Only the team that initially drafted the player can offer this kind of contract.
Latest Salary Cap Increase
The NBA increases the salary cap yearly, depending on how much the league earns. For the 2025–26 season, the salary cap has gone up to about $154.6 million. This allows teams to offer larger contracts than in previous years, because of this, max and supermax deals are now worth more than ever before.
Recent Contract Examples
Some recent players have signed very large contracts. Jaylen Brown signed a deal worth over $300 million, and Jayson Tatum agreed to a five-year deal worth over $314 million. Other stars like Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are also signing deals close to or above $200 million. These high numbers show how valuable top players are to their teams.
Impact On Teams And Players
NBA max contracts help teams keep their best players and give stars a reward for their performance. However, these deals can also limit a team’s ability to sign other players because of salary cap rules. Teams must think carefully before offering a max contract. For players, signing a max deal means more money but also more responsibility to perform at a high level.
Also Read: What Is The NBA Luxury Tax? How It Shapes Trades, Rosters, And Superteams
