With the NBA’s salary cap set at $164,961,000 for the 2026/27 league year, the rookie scale has been set as well. The rookie scale locks in the value of contracts for first-round picks.
In each 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 almost 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 2026’s first-round picks. If a first-round pick signs a rookie scale contract in 2026/27, it will be for the amount below — unless he accepts a deal worth less than the maximum allowable 120% (in which case, we’ll update these numbers).
These salary figures will only apply if the player signs in 2026/27. If a player doesn’t sign an NBA contract this year, his rookie deal 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. Those option years are represented in italics below.
Here’s the 2026 breakdown:
No.
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
2029/30
Total
1
$14,748,000
$15,485,760
$16,223,040
$20,457,253
$66,914,053
2
$13,195,320
$13,855,320
$14,515,320
$18,318,334
$59,884,294
3
$11,849,760
$12,441,840
$13,034,880
$16,476,088
$53,802,568
4
$10,683,720
$11,217,960
$11,752,320
$14,866,685
$48,520,685
5
$9,674,760
$10,158,240
$10,641,960
$13,483,363
$43,958,323
6
$8,787,000
$9,226,440
$9,666,000
$12,256,488
$39,935,928
7
$8,021,640
$8,422,920
$8,823,600
$11,205,972
$36,474,132
8
$7,348,680
$7,716,120
$8,083,680
$10,282,441
$33,430,921
9
$6,754,800
$7,093,080
$7,430,640
$9,466,635
$30,745,155
10
$6,417,360
$6,738,000
$7,058,520
$8,999,613
$29,213,493
11
$6,096,240
$6,401,280
$6,706,200
$8,899,127
$28,102,847
12
$5,791,680
$6,081,480
$6,371,160
$8,779,458
$27,023,778
13
$5,502,000
$5,777,280
$6,052,200
$8,648,594
$25,980,074
14
$5,227,200
$5,488,560
$5,750,160
$8,515,987
$24,981,907
15
$4,965,480
$5,213,760
$5,461,920
$8,373,123
$24,014,283
16
$4,717,320
$4,953,240
$5,189,400
$7,960,540
$22,820,500
17
$4,481,280
$4,705,440
$4,929,360
$7,571,497
$21,687,577
18
$4,257,480
$4,470,000
$4,683,120
$7,202,639
$20,613,239
19
$4,065,720
$4,268,880
$4,472,640
$6,887,866
$19,695,106
20
$3,902,760
$4,097,880
$4,292,880
$6,619,621
$18,913,141
21
$3,746,760
$3,934,320
$4,121,760
$6,565,964
$18,368,804
22
$3,597,120
$3,776,760
$3,956,760
$6,508,870
$17,839,510
23
$3,453,360
$3,626,160
$3,798,360
$6,445,817
$17,323,697
24
$3,315,360
$3,481,080
$3,646,800
$6,378,253
$16,821,493
25
$3,182,280
$3,341,280
$3,500,880
$6,305,085
$16,329,525
26
$3,076,920
$3,230,520
$3,384,480
$6,102,217
$15,794,137
27
$2,988,120
$3,137,640
$3,287,400
$5,930,470
$15,343,630
28
$2,969,520
$3,118,560
$3,266,880
$5,896,718
$15,251,678
29
$2,948,280
$3,095,640
$3,243,120
$5,853,832
$15,140,872
30
$2,926,800
$3,073,080
$3,219,840
$5,811,811
$15,031,531
2026’s first-round picks:
AJ Dybantsa (Wizards)
Darryn Peterson (Jazz)
Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies)
Caleb Wilson (Bulls)
Keaton Wagler (Clippers)
Mikel Brown Jr. (Nets)
Darius Acuff Jr. (Kings)
Kingston Flemings (Hawks)
Morez Johnson Jr. (Mavericks)
Brayden Burries (Bucks)
Yaxel Lendeborg (Warriors)
Aday Mara (Thunder)
Nate Ament (Bucks)
Hannes Steinbach (Hornets)
Dailyn Swain (Bulls)
Bennett Stirtz (Thunder)
Ebuka Okorie (Pistons)
Christian Anderson Jr. (Hornets)
Allen Graves (Raptors)
Jayden Quaintance (Spurs)
Karim Lopez (Grizzlies)
Labaron Philon Jr. (Sixers)
Zuby Ejiofor (Hawks)
Cameron Carr (Lakers)
Sergio de Larrea (Mavericks)
Tarris Reed Jr. (Spurs)
Chris Cenac Jr. (Celtics)
Joshua Jefferson (Nets)
Alex Karaban (Kings)
Koa Peat (Suns)