The G League is the NBA’s official minor league organization that caters to the lesser-known basketball players. It originated in 2001-2002 with the name NBA Development League and has grown and evolved to what it is today.
It gives younger rookies and veterans a platform to develop, train, rehab, and develop their skills for the big guns at the NBA.
NBA G League is a platform reserved for players as coaches, but officials, trainers, and other staff also use it as a training phase for the NBA. There are 31 teams in the G League, including 30 NBA affiliates and the Mexico City Capitanes.
Most standard G League players sign contracts with the league, while two-way players and assignment players are tied to NBA teams. Players are on a salary system based on a format that we will fully explain below.
Salary Scale of the G League
The salary of G League players depends on the contract they sign and the category they fall under. There are generally several classes as follows:
Select Player
Players in this category signed a “select contract” that was designed for elite prospects who were at least 18 years of age and chose the G League route instead of college basketball.
The base pay was usually for five months when the season was active and did not include other incentives like call-up compensation.
In recent times, this select contract was primarily for players that did not attend college and instead chose to play in the G League. The NBA G League Ignite, which became the best-known home for this pathway, concluded after the 2023-24 season, so this is no longer the main current salary path for elite draft prospects.
Two Way Player
This set of players sign with NBA teams and split time between the NBA and the G League. For the 2025-26 season, a two-way contract is worth one-half of the NBA rookie minimum salary, or $636,435.
Two-way players can spend time with both the NBA club and its G League affiliate, and they can be active for up to 50 NBA games in the regular season.
Assignment Player
Players categorized under this category usually are NBA players sent to the G League affiliate team for a period. This could be because of rehab, playtime, discipline, development, or creating a roster spot.
NBA organizations typically have this player’s contract and can move the player as they wish, depending on what the organization needs. Players on the NBA assignment earn their regular NBA salary.
G League Drafted Player
Like the NBA, the G League also drafts eligible players through its own draft system. These players that enter the G League Draft are not the same as NBA draft picks.
Once the G League drafts them, they play under G League rules and can still pursue NBA opportunities if they are eligible and an NBA team offers them a contract. Players on standard G League contracts currently earn a base salary of $40,500 for the season.
Affiliate Player
NBA Training camps usually finish up in October, and that is when NBA organizations typically select players they want in their NBA G League affiliate teams.
These players are called affiliate players. These players can advance to the leading NBA teams since they are in the G League.
In addition, this category of affiliate players can receive extra money through Exhibit 10 or training-camp bonus language if they report to and remain with the NBA team’s G League affiliate for the required period. The exact bonus depends on the player’s contract.
In Season Affiliate Players
These categories of players are similar to affiliate players, albeit a critical difference. With in-season affiliate players, the NBA team waives them while the NBA season is still in progress.
When NBA organizations waive a player, they can allocate or classify them with their respective G League affiliate and call them an in-season affiliate player.
NBA teams generally have a maximum of four affiliate players at the beginning of a season, and this only applies to players that were part of the training camp before the running season.
A Quick Summary of the Key Categories and their Salaries
- Standard G League Contract – $40,500 per season
- Select Players – Former elite-prospect pathway; NBA G League Ignite concluded after the 2023-24 season
- Assigned Players – Pro-rated NBA salary/NBA Salary depending on player’s contract
- Two-Way Players – $636,435 for the 2025-26 season
Players’ income can rise significantly above standard G League pay when combining NBA time, two-way contracts, assignment salaries, bonuses, and other incentives in their agreement.
What is the Average G League Salary?
G League salaries depend on your class and how you entered the G league. However, the standard G League base salary is currently $40,500 for the season. However, some players would earn far more than this with a combination of contracts or on the level they are.
What is the Highest G League Salary?
The highest-paid players who appear in G League games are usually NBA players on assignment, because they continue to earn their NBA salaries while assigned to the G League.
Among players who split time between the NBA and G League on a two-way contract, the 2025-26 salary is $636,435. If you are only counting players on standard G League contracts, the current base salary is $40,500 per season, before any bonuses or NBA call-up compensation.
What is the Lowest G League Salary?
The lowest salary a player on a standard G League contract can earn is currently $40,500 for the season. This payment also covers other benefits like housing and insurance while the league runs.
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Conclusion
G League is typically an opportunity for players who are trying to develop, return from injury, earn NBA call-ups, or stay close to NBA organizations. These amounts could still vary depending on the player’s ability to negotiate and their value to the team.
Even though standard G League players are not on full NBA contracts, they are still offered salaries based on a scale.
The highest-paid players in the G League are usually NBA assignment players or two-way players. However, some other players use a combination of contracts to get higher benefits that could quickly boost their take-home.
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