Lowest Paid NBA Player in the League: Bronny James, Tyler Smith, and More

The NBA has created a salary cap framework which gives teams the option to extend the cap through defined exceptions so they can maintain a flexible roster. During the 2024-25 season, the league has established its salary cap at 0.588 million. Salaries for players depend on their experience levels alongside their performance records and the outcomes of their contract discussions. The upcoming 2024-25 NBA season has a median player salary passing .7 million approximately.

Who Is the Lowest Paid NBA Player?

Teams can use three exceptions called Mid-Level Exception, Bi-Annual Exception, and Larry Bird Exception, which come with particular eligibility rules and total expenditure restrictions. In Mid-Level Exception, any team can use this once per year to help sign any player with a contract for a specific amount. Furthermore, the Bi-Annual Exception is used by the teams to sign more than one player in a non-consecutive season.

Larry Bird Exception allows NBA teams to re-sign their old players even if the salary cap is exceeded as long as the player has played three consecutive seasons without being waived. Competitive balance initiatives along with player acquisition and retention flexibility are the main objectives of these mechanisms. Below we have ranked 10 NBA players who receive the least salary and a low contract deal in the league.

#10. Adem Bona, $1,157,153

28 March 2003, born Adem Bona ranks at number 10 in our list. As a Nigerian-American defensive center player, he suits up for the Philadelphia 76ers professional team. During his collegiate years at UCLA, he received the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year recognition in his sophomore season while playing on the Bruins basketball team. The NBA Draft Committee chose Bona as their 41st overall selection during the 2024 event for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia offered Bona four years of service valued at $7,895,796 while guaranteeing a payment of $2,134,842. This gave him an annual average salary amounting to $1,973,949. His 2024-2025 season compensation amounted to $1,157,153 as his base salary.

#9. Antonio Reeves, $1,157,153

Standing at number 9 is Chicago born Antonio Reeves. Reeves is a Small forward, shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. The Orlando Magic selected him 47th during the 2024 NBA Draft after which he joined the Pelicans. Reeves joined the Pelicans under a three-year $5.41 million deal that he signed on July 22, 2024.

The Pelicans granted the 6-foot-5 inch player the following contract terms that state a base salary of $1,157,153 in 2024-25, $1,955,377 in 2025-26, and $2,296,271 in 2026-27. The Pelicans established full guarantee for the 2025-2026 contract base salary, which becomes absolute when administrators do not waive the 2026-2027 base salary before July 23, 2025.

#8. Bronny James, $1,157,153

20 year old Bronny James claims the 8th spot in our list of lowest paid NBA players. James currently serves as a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bringing a 4 year deal worth $7,895,796, James signed his contract with the Lakers on July 5, 2024, while his first-year salary consisted of $1,157,153 and carried a guaranteed payout of $4,371,403 during his entire term.

LeBron James' son will receive $1,157,153 as his base compensation during Season 2024-2025. Essential points included in the contract agreement state $1,157,153 (2024-2025), $1,955,377 ( 2025-2026), $2,296,271 (2026-2027) in partial guarantee and $2,486,995(2027-2028) as team option.

#7. Cam Christie, $1,157,153

The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Cam Christie through the 46th overall selection of the 2024 NBA Draft on July 24, 2005. This shooting guard stands at 6-foot-6-inches and weighs 190 pounds. During the 2024 NBA Draft he obtained the 46th slot. The Los Angeles Clippers gave Christie a four-year $7.9 million contract on July 5th, 2024.

His base salary for the upcoming 2024-2025 season amounts to $1,157,153 and his entire contract value corresponds to $1,157,153. The Clippers hold an optional clause for team control during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 seasons under the agreement with no specified compensation in the last year unless the team fails to waive him before June 30, 2026.

#6. Jaylen Wells, $1,157,153

Memphis Grizzlies player Jaylen Wells was born on August 26, 2003. The 6-foot-8-inch athlete stands at 6th ranking in our list. He plays as a shooting guard and small forward for the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies chose him as the 39th overall selection of the 2024 NBA Draft after his time at Washington State University.

Wells signed a multi-year contract with Memphis on July 6, 2024. As the 4 year deal was worth $7,895,796, while $3,412,530 remained guaranteed. Wells will earn his base salary of $1,157,153 during the 2024-2025 season at the same time the cap hit also amounts to $1,157,153.

#5. Oso Ighodaro, $1,157,153

The Phoenix Suns added Oso Ighodaro to their roster as their power forward after the seventh-round selection of the 40th overall draft in 2002. He was born in Mesa, Arizona on July 14th. Ighodaro became the 40th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft when the Portland Trail Blazers chose him, followed by a Suns trade.

According to Hoops Rumors, Ighodaro joined the Suns organization through a four-year contract worth $7.9 million which he signed on July 4, 2024. The deal contains a two-year full guarantee and splits the third-year payment and embraces the team option for the last year. The 2024-2025 season salary for him will be $1,157,153 before his subsequent years' wages rise.

#4. Pelle Larsson, $1,157,153

Pelle Larsson was born on February 23rd, 2001, in Sweden. He plays for the Miami Heat as a 6-foot-5-inch 215-pound shooting guard. The basketball player spent his college years at the University of Arizona where he earned the 44th position in the 2024 NBA Draft before the Houston Rockets selected him. His NBA draft rights went to the Miami Heat during the selection event.

Larsson agreed to a three-year $5.4 million contract as a Miami Heat player including optional team provisions during his second season and third year of his agreement. The 2024-2025 season salary for Larsson amounts to $1,157,153.

#3. Tyler Smith, $1,157,153

Milwaukee Bucks' power forward Tyler Smith stands at 3rd position in this article. Smith was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 2, 2004. His height reaches 6-foot-9-inch while his body weight amounts to 224 pounds. The selection committee chose him as the 33rd pick during the 2024 NBA Draft. Smith spent his time before NBA entry with the NBA G League Ignite.

According to Sportrac, Tyler Smith signed a four-year $7,895,796 Bucks contract that included $3,112,530 in guaranteed payments on July 5th, 2024. His 2024-2025 salary stands at $1,157,153 with an equal cap hit value of $1,157,153. Through this agreement, the Milwaukee Bucks sports team retains options to extend the contract into the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 seasons.

#2. Ariel Hukporti, $1,064,049

The center player for the New York Knicks, Ariel Hukporti was born on April 12, 2002, in Germany. The Dallas Mavericks selected Hukporti in the 58th spot of the 2024 NBA draft before trading him to the New York Knicks organization. The first season of Hukporti's rookie year (2024-2025) has resulted in 1.6 points with 1.8 rebounds per game. The Knicks will pay him $1,955,377 during the 2025-2026 season.

Spotrac indicates The New York Knicks gave Ariel Hukporti a two-year agreement worth $5,745,331 with $1,064,049 secured payment and $2,872,666 as his yearly average salary. During 2024-25 the New York Knicks will compensate Hukporti with a $1,064,049 base salary and his total hit to the team's cap will be $1,064,049 followed by an additional dead cash value of $1,064,049.

#1. Branden Carlson, $990,895

Branden Carlson from South Jordan, Utah was born on June 14, 1999. He stands at 7-foot, 220-pound center for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Carlson spent his collegiate years at the University of Utah where he received All-Pac-12 recognition during his third and final season. Toronto Raptors signed Carlson to their two-way contract on July 4, 2024, then waived him on October 19, 2024. On October 28, 2024, Carlson joined Raptors 905 which operates as the G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors.

He signed a standard NBA contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 16, 2024, after the team agreed to pay him at the minimum salary of $990,895 which lasted until the end of the season. The Thunder organization waived Carlson on January 7, 2025, but his salary remained nondeductible. Carlson returned to the Thunder organization on two successive 10-day contracts starting on January 10 and January 22 of 2025. He received a two-way contract on February 6, 2025 to participate between the NBA Thunder franchise and its G League affiliate nicknamed the Oklahoma City Blue. Spotrac indicates Carlson received a $990,895 salary for his remainder of season contract which was calculated through proportionate distribution from his signing date.

Who Is the Lowest Paid NBA Player Right Now?

Branden Carlson stands among the least paid NBA players during March 2025 because he receives a pro-rated salary of 0,895 approximately. This first season of Carlson has seen him participate in 19 matches while scoring 2.8 points along with 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists in each game. Carlson keeps a 48.7% field goal percentage with a three-point success rate of 45.2% during his NBA season. Below we have curated a detailed table showcasing the lowest paid NBA players.