TITLE: Rookie Scale Figures Locked In for 2026 NBA First-Round Contracts
SLUG: rookie-scale-salaries-2026-nba-first-round
CONTENT:
The NBA has set the rookie salary scale for the 2026/27 league year, basing the numbers on the $164,961,000 salary cap. First-round selections can sign for as little as 80 percent or as much as 120 percent of the assigned scale, but virtually every pick historically agrees to the 120 percent maximum. Unsigned picks also carry a 120 percent cap hold.
120 Percent Rookie Scale, 2026 Draft Slots
Pick 1: $14,748,000 (2026/27); $15,485,760 (2027/28); $16,223,040 (2028/29*); $20,457,253 (2029/30*); total $66,914,053
Pick 2: $13,195,320; $13,855,320; $14,515,320*; $18,318,334*; total $59,884,294
Pick 3: $11,849,760; $12,441,840; $13,034,880*; $16,476,088*; total $53,802,568
Pick 4: $10,683,720; $11,217,960; $11,752,320*; $14,866,685*; total $48,520,685
Pick 5: $9,674,760; $10,158,240; $10,641,960*; $13,483,363*; total $43,958,323
Pick 6: $8,787,000; $9,226,440; $9,666,000*; $12,256,488*; total $39,935,928
Pick 7: $8,021,640; $8,422,920; $8,823,600*; $11,205,972*; total $36,474,132
Pick 8: $7,348,680; $7,716,120; $8,083,680*; $10,282,441*; total $33,430,921
Pick 9: $6,754,800; $7,093,080; $7,430,640*; $9,466,635*; total $30,745,155
Pick 10: $6,417,360; $6,738,000; $7,058,520*; $8,999,613*; total $29,213,493
Pick 11: $6,096,240; $6,401,280; $6,706,200*; $8,899,127*; total $28,102,847
Pick 12: $5,791,680; $6,081,480; $6,371,160*; $8,779,458*; total $27,023,778
Pick 13: $5,502,000; $5,777,280; $6,052,200*; $8,648,594*; total $25,980,074
Pick 14: $5,227,200; $5,488,560; $5,750,160*; $8,515,987*; total $24,981,907
Pick 15: $4,965,480; $5,213,760; $5,461,920*; $8,373,123*; total $24,014,283
Pick 16: $4,717,320; $4,953,240; $5,189,400*; $7,960,540*; total $22,820,500
Pick 17: $4,481,280; $4,705,440; $4,929,360*; $7,571,497*; total $21,687,577
Pick 18: $4,257,480; $4,470,000; $4,683,120*; $7,202,639*; total $20,613,239
Pick 19: $4,065,720; $4,268,880; $4,472,640*; $6,887,866*; total $19,695,106
Pick 20: $3,902,760; $4,097,880; $4,292,880*; $6,619,621*; total $18,913,141
Pick 21: $3,746,760; $3,934,320; $4,121,760*; $6,565,964*; total $18,368,804
Pick 22: $3,597,120; $3,776,760; $3,956,760*; $6,508,870*; total $17,839,510
Pick 23: $3,453,360; $3,626,160; $3,798,360*; $6,445,817*; total $17,323,697
Pick 24: $3,315,360; $3,481,080; $3,646,800*; $6,378,253*; total $16,821,493
Pick 25: $3,182,280; $3,341,280; $3,500,880*; $6,305,085*; total $16,329,525
Pick 26: $3,076,920; $3,230,520; $3,384,480*; $6,102,217*; total $15,794,137
Pick 27: $2,988,120; $3,137,640; $3,287,400*; $5,930,470*; total $15,343,630
Pick 28: $2,969,520; $3,118,560; $3,266,880*; $5,896,718*; total $15,251,678
Pick 29: $2,948,280; $3,095,640; $3,243,120*; $5,853,832*; total $15,140,872
Pick 30: $2,926,800; $3,073,080; $3,219,840*; $5,811,811*; total $15,031,531
*Years three and four are team options. The first two seasons are fully guaranteed for every rookie scale contract.
2026 First-Round Selections
- AJ Dybantsa — Washington Wizards
- Darryn Peterson — Utah Jazz
- Cameron Boozer — Memphis Grizzlies
- Caleb Wilson — Chicago Bulls
- Keaton Wagler — Los Angeles Clippers
- Mikel Brown Jr. — Brooklyn Nets
- Darius Acuff Jr. — Sacramento Kings
- Kingston Flemings — Atlanta Hawks
- Morez Johnson Jr. — Dallas Mavericks
- Brayden Burries — Milwaukee Bucks
- Yaxel Lendeborg — Golden State Warriors
- Aday Mara — Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nate Ament — Milwaukee Bucks
- Hannes Steinbach — Charlotte Hornets
- Dailyn Swain — Chicago Bulls
- Bennett Stirtz — Oklahoma City Thunder
- Ebuka Okorie — Detroit Pistons
- Christian Anderson Jr. — Charlotte Hornets
- Allen Graves — Toronto Raptors
- Jayden Quaintance — San Antonio Spurs
- Karim Lopez — Memphis Grizzlies
- Labaron Philon Jr. — Philadelphia 76ers
- Zuby Ejiofor — Atlanta Hawks
- Cameron Carr — Los Angeles Lakers
- Sergio de Larrea — Dallas Mavericks
- Tarris Reed Jr. — San Antonio Spurs
- Chris Cenac Jr. — Boston Celtics
- Joshua Jefferson — Brooklyn Nets
- Alex Karaban — Sacramento Kings
- Koa Peat — Phoenix Suns
The figures listed apply only if a player signs during the 2026/27 season; salaries would be recalculated for any first-rounder who joins the league in a later year.
Source: Hoops Rumors
