The NBL has long been one of the few major basketball leagues in the world that does not publicly disclose player salaries. That changed recently when a report from CODE Sports revealed the salary ranges of all 160 players who suited up during the 2025-26 season.
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While exact figures were not disclosed, the report provides a fascinating look at the league’s pay structure, from the NBL’s highest earners through to Development Players.
The salary brackets offer valuable insight into what players across the competition were earning and how clubs allocate their spending under the league’s salary cap system.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of the NBL salary cap is how import player contracts are calculated. Put simply, what a club spends on an import and what counts against the salary cap are often two very different figures.
For salary cap purposes, the NBL uses a fixed exchange rate of 1.08 when converting a player’s US dollar salary into Australian dollars. This rate remains constant regardless of fluctuations in the real-world currency market.
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Let us use reigning finals MVP Kendric Davis as an example:
Say Davis is on $580,000 USD net. Same structure as any import: that’s the figure hitting his account, with the club picking up his Australian tax liability on top.
Apply the fixed rate:
$580,000 USD x 1.08 = $626,400 AUD
That’s his cap number.
In terms of real spend, once you layer in superannuation, an agent fee, flights, accommodation, a car, and any incentives in the contract, the club is likely looking at somewhere between $750,000 and $800,000 AUD out of pocket. The cap registers $626,400.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 05: Kendric Davis of the Kings celebrates after winning game five of the NBL Grand Final series between Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers at Qudos Bank Arena, on April 05, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NBL 2025-26 Salary Breakdown: Who’s Earned What
DP (DEVELOPMENT PLAYER) TO $99K
Michael Harris (Adelaide), Matt Kenyon (Adelaide), Keanu Rasmussen (Adelaide), Blake Jones (Adelaide), Tohi Smith-Milner (Brisbane), Taine Murray (Brisbane), Jack Purchase (Brisbane), Callum Dalton (Brisbane), Lachlan Anderson (Brisbane), Lamar Patterson (Brisbane), Jensen Bradtke (Brisbane), Tristan Devers (Brisbane), Tad Dufelmeier (Brisbane), Reyne Smith (Cairns), Mawot Mag (Cairns), Alex Higgins-Titsha (Cairns), Kody Stattman (Cairns), Lachie Barker (Cairns), Kian Dennis (Cairns), Mojave King (Cairns), Lloyd McVeigh (Cairns), Jed Richardson (Cairns), Dan Grida (Illawarra), Jonah Antonio (Illawarra), Biwali Bayles (Illawarra), Harry Froling (Illawarra), Kobe McDowell-White (Illawarra), Johny Narkle (Illawarra), Luca Yates (Illawarra), Malith Machar (Melbourne United), Tom Wilson (Melbourne United), Campbell Blogg (Melbourne United), Tom Koppens (Melbourne United), Nicolas Tata (Melbourne United), Taylor Britt (New Zealand), Max Darling (New Zealand), Carlin Davison (New Zealand), Jack Andrew (New Zealand), Tukaha Cooper (New Zealand), Liam Judd (New Zealand), Alex McNaught (New Zealand), Dontae Russo-Nance (Perth), Tom Gerovich (Perth), Cam Huefner (Perth), Jaron Rillie (Perth), Aliir Aliir (South East Melbourne), Luke Rosendale (South East Melbourne), Daniel Foster (South East Melbourne), Pat Ryan (South East Melbourne), Ellis Biggar (South East Melbourne), Jason Spurgin (Sydney), Hunter Goodrick (Sydney), Lachlan Dent (Sydney), Lueth Awan (Sydney), Goc Malual (Sydney), TJ Starks (Tasmania), Nick Marshall (Tasmania), Kobe Williamson (Tasmania), Nick Stoddart (Tasmania), Jacob Richards (Tasmania), Ryley Haywood (Tasmania), Brody Nunn (Tasmania), Archie Woodhill (Tasmania).
LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 01: Reyne Smith of the Taipans dribbles the ball during the round seven NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Cairns Taipans at Silverdome, on November 01, 2025, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
$100,000 – $199,000
Troy Brown Jr (Adelaide), Isaac White (Adelaide), Mitch Norton (Brisbane), Sam McDaniel (Brisbane), Dakota Mathias (Brisbane), Jacob Holt (Brisbane), Andrew Andrews (Cairns), Kyrin Galloway (Cairns), Kyle Adnam (Cairns), JaQuori McLaughlin (Illawarra), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Illawarra), Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra), Mason Peatling (Illawarra), Will Hickey (Illawarra), Tanner Krebs (Melbourne United), Kyle Bowen (Melbourne United), Fabijan Krslovic (Melbourne United), Rob Loe (New Zealand), Izaiah Brockington (New Zealand), Rob Baker (New Zealand), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa (New Zealand), Sean Bairstow (New Zealand), Tai Webster (New Zealand), Sam Mennenga (New Zealand), Rueben Te Rangi (New Zealand), Sunday Dech (Perth), Jesse Wagstaff (Perth), David Okwera (Perth), Lat Mayen (Perth), Elijah Pepper (Perth), Wes Iwundu (South East Melbourne), Angus Glover (South East Melbourne), Gorjok Gak (South East Melbourne), DJ Mitchell (South East Melbourne), Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne), Makuach Maluach (South East Melbourne), Jaylin Galloway (Sydney), Tyler Robertson (Sydney), Shaun Bruce (Sydney), Keli Leaupepe (Sydney), Majok Deng (Tasmania), Anthony Drmic (Tasmania), Ben Ayre (Tasmania).
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 04: Elijah Pepper of the Wildcats drives to the basket during the NBL Seeding Qualifier match between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena, on March 04, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
$200,000 – $299,000
Flynn Cameron (Adelaide), John Jenkins (Adelaide), Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane), Javon Freeman-Liberty (Brisbane), Terry Taylor (Brisbane), Marcus Lee (Cairns), Sam Froling (Illawarra), QJ Peterson (Illawarra), Tyson Walker (Melbourne United), Ben Henshall (Perth), Kouat Noi (Sydney), Tyger Campbell (Tasmania), Sean Macdonald (Tasmania), David Johnson (Tasmania), Hunter Maldonado (Brisbane/South East Melbourne).
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 10: Flynn Cameron of the 36ers during game one of the NBL Playoff series match between Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on March 10, 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
$300,000 – $399,000
Nick Rakocevic (Adelaide), Jaylen Adams (Brisbane), Alex Ducas (Brisbane), Sam Waardenburg (Cairns), Admiral Schofield (Cairns), Jonah Bolden (Illawarra), Tyler Harvey (Illawarra), Jesse Edwards (Melbourne United), Shea Ili (Melbourne United), Kristian Doolittle (Perth), David Duke Jr (Perth), Jordan Hunter (South East Melbourne), John Brown III (South East Melbourne), Ian Clark (South East Melbourne), Torrey Craig (Sydney), Tim Soares (Sydney), Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania), Josh Bannan (Tasmania).
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 29: Torrey Craig of the Kings celebrates victory after game three of the NBL Grand Final series between Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers at Qudos Bank Arena, on March 29, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
$400,000 – $499,000
Isaac Humphries (Adelaide), Dejan Vasiljevic (Adelaide), Zylan Cheatham (Adelaide), Casey Prather (Brisbane), Chris Goulding (Melbourne United), Milton Doyle (Melbourne United), Finn Delany (Melbourne United), Vrens Bleijenberg (South East Melbourne), Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne), Matthew Dellavedova (Sydney), Will Magnay (Tasmania).
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 01: Zylan Cheatham of the 36ers celebrates two during game four of the NBL Grand Final series between Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on April 01, 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
$500,000 – $599,000
JaVale McGee (Illawarra), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand), Dylan Windler (Perth), Kendric Davis (Sydney), Bul Kuol (Sydney).
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – DECEMBER 03: Parker Jackson-Cartwright of the NZ Breakers celebrates during the round 11 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Sydney Kings at Claudelands Arena, on December 03, 2025, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
$600,000+
Bryce Cotton (Adelaide), Mason Jones (Perth), Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Perth), Jack McVeigh (Cairns), Xavier Cooks (Sydney).
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 27: Bryce Cotton of the 36ers during game two of the NBL Grand Final series between Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on March 27, 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images