Milwaukee Bucks Secure 2024 NBA Cup Victory with Record Earnings
The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged victorious in the 2024 NBA Cup, not only claiming the top title but also securing substantial financial rewards for their players. Each team member will receive a handsome payday, thanks primarily to modifications in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and the Basketball Related Income (BRI) growth factor.
Player Payouts and Financial Breakdown
By clinching the NBA Cup, every Bucks player is set to pocket more than $500,000. This increase in prize money is a direct result of recent adjustments within the league’s financial structures. One standout aspect is the calculation of payouts based on the BRI growth factor. Essentially, this factor compares the current Basketball Related Income to that of the 2022-23 season, impacting the financial rewards significantly.
Interestingly, all players who participated in the knockout round are entitled to bonuses. Those from teams that were eliminated in the quarterfinals, namely the Knicks, Magic, Mavericks, and Warriors, will take home $51,497 each. Meanwhile, players from the Hawks and Rockets, whose journeys ended in the semifinals, are set for a $102,994 payout per person.
What about the Runners-Up?
The Thunder, who put up a commendable fight in the championship game but ultimately fell short, will see each of their players receiving $205,988. Notably, the CBA guidelines specify that "for each subsequent Salary Cap Year: (A) for each [NBA Cup] Player on the Team that wins the [NBA Cup] Finals Game, an amount equal to $500,000 multiplied by the 'BRI Growth Factor' for such Salary Cap Year; (B) for each IST Player on the Team that loses the IST Finals Game, an amount equal to $200,000 multiplied by the BRI Growth Factor for such Salary Cap Year."
Impact on Two-Way and 10-Day Contract Players
Players on two-way or 10-day contracts are not left out of the winnings, though their bonuses are adjusted. They receive half of the BRI growth factor payout for their knockout stage appearances. For instance, a two-way contract player on the championship-winning Bucks team walks away with a bonus amounting to $257,485.50. As the CBA rules highlight, these earnings "shall count as one-half of a knockout stage game for which such player was on the Team's Active or Inactive List."
In essence, the Bucks' victory heralds not only a prestigious title win but showcases the cascading effects of the league's evolving financial dynamics on player earnings. This championship, coupled with the lucrative payouts, underscores the expanding economic landscape of the NBA, driven by strategic financial agreements and income growth factors.