A look at potential bonus money certain NBA players could earn this season.
Every NBA player has a reason to try hard during the season, but some players have extra incentive thanks to contract bonuses.
This season, 34 total players have bonuses built into their contract. So, if it looks like these guys are putting in extra effort in meaningless games or playing while injured, now you know why.
No one stands to make more than Jrue Holiday in bonus money in this year. In total, Holiday could earn an extra $4.7 million should he hit all of his bonuses. The complete list for Holiday looks like this:
*$510K for playing in 66 games and playing 2,075 minutes.
*$255K for playing in 67 games and averaging 7.3 assists and 3.15 rebounds.
*Undisclosed bonus for making the All-Star team.
*Undisclosed bonus for playing in the postseason.
*Undisclosed statistical bonus.
*Undisclosed bonus for making All-NBA.
Look for Rudy Gobert to have a dominating year. Not only is he angered over Gordon Hayward’s departure, but he has multiple bonuses in his contract that add up to over $2 million.
Should Gobert make the Western Conference All-Star team as a starter or reserve (not as a replacement), Gobert will earn an extra $1 million. The Jazz forward is unlikely to win a popularity contest over Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, but a strong first half could allow him to be a coaches pick as a reverse. Or maybe Utah will stuff the ballot box in Gobert’s favor.
Along with an All-Star bonus, Gobert has multiple defensive bonuses. He could earn $500K for making All-Defense team, $250K for collecting a certain amount of rebounds, and $250K if he has a defensive rating of less than 100.
Finally, Gobert will earn a bonus just for staying in shape.
Kyle Lowry could earn $200K for making the All-Star game, which seems likely in the pedestrian East, but there are some caveats to his clause. Not only does Lowry have to make the roster, but he has to appear in 65 games and play at least 25 minutes per game.
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Other bonuses to keep an eye on:
*Dion Waiters collects $1.1 million if he plays more than 70 games.
*Kelly Olynk gets $1 million if he plays more than 1,700 minutes.
*Paul Millsap could earn $250K for All-Defense 1st team or $150K for All-Defense 2nd team.
*Evan Fournier gets $500K if the Orlando Magic win the NBA title.
The full list of player bonuses can be found here, courtesy of ESPN.