With the NBA’s salary cap set at $123,655,000 for the 2022/23 league year, the rookie scale has been set as well. The rookie scale locks in the value of contracts for first-round picks.
In every NBA league year, rookie scale amounts are assigned to each first-round slot, from No. 1 through No. 30. Teams can sign their first-rounders to as little as 80% of that rookie scale amount, or up to 120% of that figure.
While that rule theoretically affords teams some flexibility, first-round picks virtually always sign contracts worth 120% of their rookie scale amount, and unsigned first-rounders have a cap hold worth 120% of their rookie scale amount.
Listed below are the salary figures that represent 120% of the rookie scale amounts for 2022’s first-round picks. If a first-round pick signs a rookie scale contract in 2022/23, it will be for the amount below unless he accepts a deal worth less than the maximum allowable 120%. If that happens, we’ll adjust their amounts below.
These salary figures will only apply if the player signs in 2022/23. If a player doesn’t sign an NBA contract this year, his rookie contract will look a little different in future seasons.
Rookie scale contracts are guaranteed for the first two years, with team options on the third and fourth years.
Here’s the 2022 breakdown, via Eric Pincus of Sports Business Classroom:
| Player | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paolo Banchero | $11,055,120 | $11,608,080 | $12,160,800 | $15,334,769 | $50,158,769 |
| Chet Holmgren | $9,891,240 | $10,386,000 | $10,880,640 | $13,731,368 | $44,889,248 |
| Jabari Smith | $8,882,640 | $9,326,520 | $9,770,880 | $12,350,392 | $40,330,432 |
| Keegan Murray | $8,008,440 | $8,409,000 | $8,809,560 | $11,144,093 | $36,371,093 |
| Jaden Ivey | $7,252,200 | $7,614,480 | $7,977,240 | $10,107,163 | $32,951,083 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | $6,586,800 | $6,916,080 | $7,245,720 | $9,187,573 | $29,936,173 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | $6,012,960 | $6,313,800 | $6,614,160 | $8,399,983 | $27,340,903 |
| Dyson Daniels | $5,508,600 | $5,784,120 | $6,059,520 | $7,707,709 | $25,059,949 |
| Jeremy Sochan | $5,063,520 | $5,316,960 | $5,570,040 | $7,096,231 | $23,046,751 |
| Johnny Davis | $4,810,320 | $5,050,800 | $5,291,160 | $6,746,229 | $21,898,509 |
| Ousmane Dieng | $4,569,840 | $4,798,440 | $5,027,040 | $6,770,882 | $21,166,202 |
| Jalen Williams | $4,341,480 | $4,558,680 | $4,775,760 | $6,580,997 | $20,256,917 |
| Jalen Duren | $4,124,280 | $4,330,680 | $4,536,840 | $6,483,144 | $19,474,944 |
| Ochai Agbaji | $3,918,360 | $4,114,200 | $4,310,280 | $6,383,525 | $18,726,365 |
| Mark Williams | $3,722,040 | $3,908,160 | $4,094,280 | $6,276,531 | $18,001,011 |
| AJ Griffin | $3,536,180 | $3,712,920 | $3,889,920 | $5,967,137 | $17,106,157 |
| Tari Eason | $3,359,160 | $3,527,160 | $3,695,160 | $5,675,766 | $16,257,246 |
| Dalen Terry | $3,191,400 | $3,350,760 | $3,510,480 | $5,399,118 | $15,451,758 |
| Jake LaRavia | $3,047,640 | $3,199,920 | $3,352,680 | $5,163,127 | $14,763,367 |
| Malaki Branham | $2,925,600 | $3,071,880 | $3,217,920 | $4,962,033 | $14,177,433 |
| Christian Braun | $2,808,600 | $2,949,120 | $3,089,640 | $4,921,797 | $13,769,157 |
| Walker Kessler | $2,696,400 | $2,831,160 | $2,965,920 | $4,878,938 | $13,372,418 |
| David Roddy | $2,588,640 | $2,718,240 | $2,847,240 | $4,831,766 | $12,985,886 |
| MarJon Beauchamp | $2,420,400 | $2,609,400 | $2,733,720 | $4,781,276 | $12,544,796 |
| Blake Wesley | $2,385,480 | $2,504,640 | $2,624,280 | $4,726,328 | $12,240,728 |
| Wendell Moore | $2,306,520 | $2,421,720 | $2,537,040 | $4,574,283 | $11,839,563 |
| Nikola Jovic | $2,239,920 | $2,352,000 | $2,464,200 | $4,445,417 | $11,501,537 |
| Patrick Baldwin | $2,226,000 | $2,337,720 | $2,448,840 | $4,420,156 | $11,432,716 |
| TyTy Washington | $2,210,040 | $2,320,440 | $2,431,080 | $4,388,099 | $11,349,659 |
| Peyton Watson | $2,193,960 | $2,303,520 | $2,413,560 | $4,356,476 | $11,267,516 |