Remaining strength of schedule for every NBL team<\/a><\/p>\nAUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 17: Eastern Washington Forward Felix Von Hofe (44) looks to pass during a NCAA basketball game game between the Eastern Washington Eagles and the Texas Longhorns on November 17, 2016 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX. Texas defeated Eastern Washington 85-52. (Photo by Nick Wosika\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I look back on my time, I think about how far the NBL has come; $30,000 was the minimum back then, and now it\u2019s around $80-something thousand for a minimum deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is in the middle tier where the NBL still faces challenges. Depth players and solid starters are often not remunerated at the same level they might command in other strong international leagues, highlighting an ongoing gap in the league\u2019s pay structure.<\/p>\n
At the top end, however, NBL26 is believed to feature four players earning in excess of $1 million AUD, underscoring the league\u2019s growing financial muscle. That group includes Bryce Cotton, Xavier Cooks, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Jack McVeigh, with Parker Jackson-Cartwright likely to join them in the following season.<\/p>\n
A marquee system allows NBL teams to build stronger rosters by paying elite players well above the salary cap, while only a fixed portion of that contract counts against the cap.<\/p>\n
Under the current structure, a team\u2019s first marquee player carries a cap hit of $250,056.15. A second marquee counts $333,409.66, a third $416,761.71, and a fourth $500,113.77.<\/p>\n
To qualify as a marquee, the player must be Australian or New Zealand-eligible. For example, now that Cotton holds Australian citizenship and is classified as a local, a hypothetical $1 million AUD contract would count just $250,056.15 against the cap.<\/p>\n
A team is permitted to carry no more than four combined marquee players and imports. Using the Adelaide 36ers as an example, Cotton would occupy a marquee spot, alongside imports Zylan Cheatham, Nick Rakocevic, and newly signed John Jenkins.<\/p>\n
Bryce Cotton is one of a select few players earning over one million dollars a season.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Taken together, these figures paint the picture of a league capable of offering meaningful financial incentives within an English-speaking country, inside a well-run competition that has established a proven reputation as a pathway to the NBA.<\/p>\n
HOW THE NBL STACKS UP AT HOME<\/p>\n
The AFL and NRL remain the country\u2019s two dominant competitions, driven by scale, broadcast reach and decades of entrenched commercial power. One of the most significant structural differences, however, lies in roster size and how salary caps are distributed across those squads.<\/p>\n
The AFL operates under a salary cap of approximately $17.7 million AUD, spread across squads of up to 44 players, including rookies. The NRL allows up to 36 contracted players, with the top 30 required to fit under a cap of $11.95 million AUD.<\/p>\n
NCA. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. November 19th. AFL National Draft at Marvel Stadium. Number 1 pick Willem Duursma recieves his Eagles jumper from 2023 number 1 pick Harley Reid . Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
At the individual level, minimum rookie contracts in the AFL sit at around $100,000 AUD per season, while NRL rookies typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 AUD depending on squad status.<\/p>\n
At the top end of the market, the AFL\u2019s highest-paid player last season earned approximately $1.45 million AUD, while the NRL\u2019s leading salary sat around $1.4 million AUD. Across the league, roughly 25 AFL players earn $1 million or more per season, compared to an estimated 15 to 20 players in the NRL.<\/p>\n
Where the AFL \u2013 and even the NRL \u2013 clearly hold an advantage over the NBL is in average salaries. While elite NBL players are now earning comparable money, the league\u2019s middle tier continues to lag behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look and compare the bottom-end contracts and what they\u2019re worth in those leagues to the NBL, it\u2019s pretty close,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
Sydney Kings edge past Melbourne United | 03:08<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in the AFL, you\u2019ve got a lot of mid-level guys earning $600,000 to $700,000, whereas in the NBL there are guys earning a lot less than that in that middle tier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue then becomes that those mid-level guys in the NBL can go over to Japan and earn far more money and leave. That creates a huge loss of depth for the league to countries willing to overpay them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within the NBL, players on mid-level deals sit well below their counterparts in Australia\u2019s major codes. A strong example is Dejan Vasiljevic, who is estimated to be earning approximately $350,000 to $450,000 this season with the 36ers. Even at the next tier, established stars such as Chris Goulding are estimated to be in the $400,000 to $500,000 range.<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 20: Luke Jackson of the Dockers celebrates kicking a goal during the round 19 AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Fremantle Dockers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 20, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Viewed side-by-side, however, the salary gap between the NBL and Australia\u2019s major codes is narrower than many might expect. Top-end NBL salaries now align closely with elite AFL and NRL earnings, while rookie deals are only marginally lower.<\/p>\n
However, the AFL and NRL retain significant advantages through free-to-air exposure, commercial reach and long-established fan bases. More importantly, they have been mature businesses for decades, generating consistent revenue streams and long-term financial security for players.<\/p>\n
For much of the 2000s and 2010s, the AFL and NRL were the default pathways for elite multi-sport athletes, largely due to the financial certainty and prestige attached to those leagues. <\/p>\n
Luke Jackson offers a compelling example. Before his AFL career, Jackson was an elite junior basketball prospect, representing Australia in the Under-16 FIBA Asia Championships \u2013 where the team won gold \u2013 and the Under-17 FIBA Basketball World Cup. <\/p>\n
He was named to the Under-16 Asia Championships All-Tournament Team, with the AIS keen to develop him toward college and potential NBA or NBL opportunities.<\/p>\n
Jackson ultimately chose the AFL, going on to build a successful career with Melbourne and Fremantle. Yet some of his junior basketball teammates followed a different path, including Luke Travers, now in the NBA and G League system, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, and Tamuri Wigness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Luke Jackson had been offered a million US dollars per year to play in America, there\u2019s no doubt in my mind that he would have chosen basketball over the AFL,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe financial incentive would have made the basketball pathway far more appealing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Luke Travers (33) drives past Boston Celtics’ Baylor Scheierman (55) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo\/Michael Dwyer)Source: AP<\/p>\n
That raises a broader question as the NBL continues to grow: could increasing salaries bring fringe Australian NBA players back home, closer to family and into stable, high-level roles?<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney\u2019s money, but if you\u2019re over there and not getting much opportunity, there comes a point where that ends,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NBL has the advantage that if players like Luke Travers choose to return, they can earn significant money while being at home in a comfortable environment. That\u2019s a massive draw compared to the uncertainty of the NBA or being an import in other leagues.\u201d<\/p>\n
A more natural domestic comparison for the NBL is cricket\u2019s Big Bash League. As a global T20 competition still carving out its long-term identity, the BBL operates under a tiered contract system: platinum, gold, silver and bronze.<\/p>\n
Platinum contracts can reach up to $420,000 AUD, gold up to $300,000, silver $200,000 and bronze $100,000. Teams are also required to retain a minimum number of players earning $200,000 or more.<\/p>\n
NZ Breakers keep finals hopes alive | 01:41<\/p>\n
When stacked against the BBL, the NBL generally sits slightly higher at the top end, while offering comparable depth across the middle of its roster \u2013 reinforcing its position as a growing, but still evolving, professional sports league in the Australian market.<\/p>\n
HOW PRIVATE OWNERSHIP SHAPES THE NBL<\/p>\n
One of the most significant factors separating the NBL from other major sporting codes in Australia is its ownership model. In the NBL, every club except the Cairns Taipans is owned and operated by private individuals, investment groups or consortiums. The Taipans, by contrast, operate under a community-owned, not-for-profit structure governed by an incorporated board.<\/p>\n
This private ownership model provides the NBL with a unique competitive advantage. Unlike member-owned clubs, private owners have greater discretion in how aggressively they choose to spend. While some clubs operate conservatively, aiming to stay close to profitability, others are willing to absorb short-term losses in pursuit of on-court success and championships.<\/p>\n
The Adelaide 36ers in NBL26 offer a clear example of this approach, with the club committing significant resources in a bid to contend \u2013 a strategy that excites Von Hofe.<\/p>\n
NBL side Adelaide 36ers major share holder Grant Kelley – pic Mike BurtonSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at Grant Kelley at Adelaide, for example. They could sit there and take more profit across the board as a team owner, or they could spend the money they\u2019re spending to win games,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrant Kelley and Adelaide are a prime example of an owner deciding to open the chequebook to bring in top talent and compete at a higher level.<\/p>\n
\u201cPaying guys like Bryce Cotton that sort of huge money shows they\u2019re choosing to invest in success on the court, even if it means sacrificing potential profit.\u201d<\/p>\n
When comparing this ownership structure to the AFL and NRL, both contrasts and similarities emerge. AFL clubs operate entirely under a member-owned, not-for-profit model, similar to that of the Cairns Taipans. In this system, fans own the club, and any profits are reinvested back into football operations rather than distributed to individuals or shareholders.<\/p>\n
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The NRL sits somewhere in between, operating across three ownership models: member-owned, privately owned and transitional ownership. Transitional ownership typically occurs when the league temporarily owns a club during expansion, providing financial and operational support until the team is established and sustainable.<\/p>\n
In Australia, however, sports ownership exists on a far finer margin than in markets such as the United States. The balance between investing to compete, turning a profit and simply remaining viable is far more delicate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe margins in sports ownership in Australia are very, very thin. You have to spend money to win,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes people get lost in this idea of, \u2018Why aren\u2019t they spending more?\u2019<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 12: (L-R) Adelaide 36ers CEO Nic Barbato, Partizan President Ostoja Mijailovic, Adelaide 36ers player Michael Harris, NBL owner Larry Kestelman, Adelaide 36ers Executive Chairman Grant Kelley, Sydney Kings player Kouat Noi, Panathinaikos President Vassilis Parthenopoulos and Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass pose during a NBL media announcement at Hoops Capital East on May 12, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King\/Getty Images for the NBL)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t like US sport, where teams are making $100 million a year and the equity value is enormous. That just doesn\u2019t exist here.\u201d<\/p>\n
In that context, private ownership has allowed the NBL to close the financial gap more rapidly than might otherwise be possible \u2013 giving ambitious owners the freedom to invest heavily in talent, elevate the league\u2019s profile and accelerate its growth in ways traditional models often cannot.<\/p>\n
HOW THE NBL STACKS UP GLOBALLY<\/p>\n
While the NBL has established itself as a premier development league, its financial position becomes more challenging when viewed against the world\u2019s leading basketball competitions.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s B1 League has emerged as a major rival, increasingly attracting Australian players and former NBL imports. Salaries in Japan are typically structured across minimum, average and star-level contracts.<\/p>\n
BENDIGO, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 22: Nick Kay of Australia drives to the basket during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifying match between Australia Boomers and Korea at Red Energy Arena on February 22, 2024 in Bendigo, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Minimum salaries range from approximately $24,000 to $35,000 AUD, while average players earn between $80,000 and $150,000 AUD. Lower-tier imports can earn up to $380,000 AUD net, while high-level imports can get $2.2 million net – or more.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, the 2026-27 season will see Japan introduce the B.League Premier, a new top-tier competition designed to improve competitive balance through the removal of relegation and the introduction of a salary cap.<\/p>\n
This development is expected to place the NBL and Japan on a more level footing when competing for import talent, with salaries increasingly sitting in similar brackets. As a result, players will face a clear choice: pursue potentially higher earnings in Japan, or play in the NBL within an English-speaking environment while remaining closely connected to the NBA pathway.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of both leagues, it\u2019s known among agents and players that the NBL is the pathway to the NBA over Japan,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can go over to Japan and make your money, but you\u2019re most likely not going to make the NBA from your performances there because they don\u2019t have the same relationship with NBA scouts or the legitimacy the NBL has.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NBL has produced so many NBA players that you can look at NBL numbers and have a genuine understanding of how that translates to the NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the growing financial competition, Von Hofe does not view Japan\u2019s spending power as a threat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a whole crop of imports decides to go to Japan, there are still going to be so many players left who can come to the NBL and be superstars,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Beyond Japan, global basketball\u2019s financial hierarchy is dominated by college basketball, the EuroLeague and the NBA.<\/p>\n
With the introduction of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals<\/a>, college basketball has become an increasingly lucrative option for elite young players worldwide. High-level prospects can now earn significant money while pursuing NBA opportunities \u2013 or simply securing financial stability over a four-year college career.<\/p>\nDURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 04: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils prepares to take the floor during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 04, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
For example, the projected number-one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, carried an estimated NIL valuation of approximately $7.25 million AUD. While NIL valuations are not direct salaries, they represent a player\u2019s estimated earning potential across endorsements, social media, performance incentives and media exposure.<\/p>\n
That financial reality has direct implications for the NBL. Roman Siulepa is one such example, with the 19-year-old opting for college basketball over alternative sporting pathways.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe (Siulepa) is earning a substantial amount in the US college system,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen young athletes see their peers making good money, they\u2019re less likely to switch sports, whether that\u2019s AFL, NRL or elsewhere, because basketball is now a viable and profitable career path.<\/p>\n
Roman Siulepa in action for Queensland at the 2025 Basketball Australia Under-20 National Championships. Picture: Taylor EarnshawSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
\u201cOtherwise, we probably lose him to rugby, the NRL or something similar, because right now the NBL can\u2019t compete with those kinds of salaries for first-, second- or third-year players.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Europe, the EuroLeague represents another financial step above the NBL. Minimum salaries typically sit between $160,000 and $240,000 AUD, with average contracts ranging from $750,000 to $1.2 million AUD. At the top end, elite stars can earn between $4 million and $8 million AUD per season.<\/p>\n
The NBA, however, operates on an entirely different financial plane. Rookie minimum salaries begin at roughly $1.9 million AUD and rise beyond $5.4 million AUD for veteran players. At the highest level, elite superstars earn more than $80 million AUD per season.<\/p>\n
That gap remains the financial mountain the NBL continues to chase \u2013 but it is only part of the story.<\/p>\n
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THE BIG PICTURE<\/p>\n
The NBL is a strong, financially stable competition with a clearly defined development pathway and growing international credibility. While its headline salary figures do not yet rival Europe\u2019s elite leagues or the NBA, the league\u2019s true value lies in opportunity, exposure and progression.<\/p>\n
Measured against Australia\u2019s major sporting codes, the NBL now holds its own \u2013 particularly at the top end of the salary spectrum. More importantly, it offers something few domestic leagues can match: a legitimate bridge to the NBA and the life-changing financial upside that pathway can provide.<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Bryce Cotton of the 36ers and Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR exchange playing singles after the match between Panathinaikos BC and Adelaide 36ers at Qudos Bank Arena on September 21, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI firmly believe a vast majority of Australians would be genuinely surprised by how competitive the salaries at the upper echelon of the NBL are compared to the AFL and NRL,\u201d Von Hofe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think 99.9 per cent of people in this country who follow the major sports codes, but maybe don\u2019t follow the NBL as closely, would be shocked to know what Bryce Cotton is earning.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think that\u2019s where private ownership in sport is still a little foreign to the Australian market.\u201d<\/p>\n
With strong grassroots participation, increasing global respect and a proven track record of producing NBA-level talent, the NBL\u2019s financial ceiling \u2013 and its influence on Australian basketball \u2013 continues to rise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NBL is widely regarded as one of the strongest domestic basketball competitions in the world and one…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":411288,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-411287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=411287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/411288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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