Key facts
- Cooper Flagg, an 18-year-old freshman from Duke, was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
- Flagg is expected to earn approximately $14 million in his first NBA season.
- The total guaranteed salary for the first four years of Flagg's NBA career could exceed $60 million.
- Falling a few slots in the draft could cost a player as much as $30 million.
- The NBA's rookie salary scale, implemented in 1995, dictates player compensation.
- The projected NBA salary cap for the 2025-26 season is $154.6 million, a 10% increase from the previous season.
Cooper Flagg, an 18-year-old freshman from Duke, was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. His selection marks the beginning of what could be a lucrative career, with projections indicating he could earn nearly $14 million in his first season alone. The NBA's rookie salary scale, implemented in 1995, dictates compensation for incoming players, though teams can offer contracts that deviate by up to 20% from the established slot values. Recent top picks like Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher have secured deals that exceeded these slot values. Falling even a few draft positions can result in a significant financial difference, potentially costing a player tens of millions of dollars over their initial contract. The NBA's salary cap is expected to rise to $154.6 million for the 2025-26 season, a 10% increase, which influences rookie contract values. Flagg's potential career earnings could reach into the billions if he fulfills his promise as a franchise-altering talent.
NBA rookie salaries have evolved considerably since the league first introduced a predetermined pay structure. In 1995, No. 1 pick Glenn Robinson signed a ten-year, $68 million deal. In contrast, Joe Smith, the first player selected under the new guidelines, was slated to earn $2 million in his rookie year. The NFL also implemented rookie compensation caps in 2011. The current NBA rookie scale reflects the league's growing revenue, with the salary cap projected to increase substantially for the upcoming season.