G-League - life in the NBA minors

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

It seems like the NBA's minor league system isn't that well understood.

Here is my understanding. I hope I have it right.

Each NBA team has 15 regular players on the roster during the season.
They can have 3 additional players on "2-way contracts" with the G-League.
Players on "2-way contracts" can be brought up to the NBA team and play or sit around watching.
The NBA team has complete control of these players and can release them at any point.

Typically players in the G-League have contracts with the G-League itself- they do not have contracts with the NBA franchise, even though the team is affiliated.
The "2-way players" are the exception and provide the roster link between the NBA franchise and a specific G-League franchise, which is usually owned by the NBA franchise.
There are 10 roster players and 2 "two-way" players per G-League team.
Most of the G-Leaguers comprise a talent pool of free agents.
Thus Miami can sign a two-way deal with a "regular" player on the Milwaukee G-League roster.
"Two way" players are then exclusive to the team that signed them.

The regular G-League player gets paid $40,500 for a 5-6 month season.
No one is allowed in the G-League with 4 years of NBA playing experience.
The "2-way" players get paid half of the NBA rookie minimum salary, whether he's with the NBA team or the G-league team.
The NBA rookie minimum is now $1.157 million. So half of that is about $578,000. Otherwise they're making $40.500. The G-League pays for housing.
Earnings can be guaranteed for players on "2-way" contracts. So a guy might be guaranteed $75k minimum when he signs his "two way."

G-League games appear to draw between 500 and 2000 fans per game, based on random box scores.

To summarize, there are about 450 players in the NBA, making anywhere from $1 million a year to $infinity..
There are about 90 "two way" players in the G-League, earning $578,000 a season.
There are about 300 "regular" players in the G-League, apparently earning $40.500 + housing.
Somewhat less than half of the G-League is made up of rookies.

D1 basketball has 350 or so teams, with 13 scholarships per team. so about 4550 players.

 

[CSCatFan1]

It seems like the NBA's minor league system isn't that well understood.

Here is my understanding. I hope I have it right.

Each NBA team has 15 regular players on the roster during the season.
They can have 3 additional players on "2-way contracts" with the G-League.
Players on "2-way contracts" can be brought up to the NBA team and play or sit around watching.
The NBA team has complete control of these players and can release them at any point.

Typically players in the G-League have contracts with the G-League itself- they do not have contracts with the NBA franchise, even though the team is affiliated.
The "2-way players" are the exception and provide the roster link between the NBA franchise and a specific G-League franchise, which is usually owned by the NBA franchise.
There are 10 roster players and 2 "two-way" players per G-League team.
Most of the G-Leaguers comprise a talent pool of free agents.
Thus Miami can sign a two-way deal with a "regular" player on the Milwaukee G-League roster.
"Two way" players are then exclusive to the team that signed them.

The regular G-League player gets paid $40,500 for a 5-6 month season.
No one is allowed in the G-League with 4 years of NBA playing experience.
The "2-way" players get paid half of the NBA rookie minimum salary, whether he's with the NBA team or the G-league team.
The NBA rookie minimum is now $1.157 million. So half of that is about $578,000. Otherwise they're making $40.500. The G-League pays for housing.
Earnings can be guaranteed for players on "2-way" contracts. So a guy might be guaranteed $75k minimum when he signs his "two way."

G-League games appear to draw between 500 and 2000 fans per game, based on random box scores.

To summarize, there are about 450 players in the NBA, making anywhere from $1 million a year to $infinity..
There are about 90 "two way" players in the G-League, earning $578,000 a season.
There are about 300 "regular" players in the G-League, apparently earning $40.500 + housing.
Somewhat less than half of the G-League is made up of rookies.

D1 basketball has 350 or so teams, with 13 scholarships per team. so about 4550 players.

Great info. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Ilvolino]

Great info. Thank you for sharing.

So Boo is making $570,000. Sweet and well deserved

 

[JimStarr777]

Most of the G-Leaguers comprise a talent pool of free agents.
Thus Miami can sign a two-way deal with a "regular" player on the Milwaukee G-League roster.
"Two way" players are then exclusive to the team that signed them.

Does that player then get moved to the Miami G-League team? Or does he remain on Milwaukee’s G-League team?

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Does that player then get moved to the Miami G-League team? Or does he remain on Milwaukee’s G-League team?

He'd go to either Miami's G-League team or their NBA team.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

So Boo is making $570,000. Sweet and well deserved

The "two-way" players must be signed by a specific date - I think this may coincide with the G-League draft in October.
The G-League season starts in early November and goes through March.
Teams may waive "two-way" players until January 7th, after which their contracts are guaranteed.

So Buie can be waived prior to Jan 7 and would be paid on a pro-rated basis (Games Played / 50) * $570,000.
After that he's getting the full $570k.

Worth noting that both Cam Spencer and Pat Spencer also have "two-way" deals this season.

Pete Nance had a "two-way" deal last year, but this year he doesn't, he's just a G-League player.

 

[Ilvolino]

The "two-way" players must be signed by a specific date - I think this may coincide with the G-League draft in October.
The G-League season starts in early November and goes through March.
Teams may waive "two-way" players until January 7th, after which their contracts are guaranteed.

So Buie can be waived prior to Jan 7 and would be paid on a pro-rated basis (Games Played / 50) * $570,000.
After that he's getting the full $570k.

Worth noting that both Cam Spencer and Pat Spencer also have "two-way" deals this season.

Pete Nance had a "two-way" deal last year, but this year he doesn't, he's just a G-League player.

Very informative. Thanks

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Here are the players on such contracts. They can play up to 50 games in the NBA. This is Pat Spencer’s 2nd and final 2-way year.

Two-Way Tracker: NBA Players Signed to Two-Way Contracts - The NBA G League

See below for more information on Two-Way Players from the 2025-26 season. NBA G League 101: Two-Way Contracts Beginning in the 2017 offseason, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players with the addition of two spots for players under “Two-Way Contracts.” For the 2025-26 season, each NBA team...

gleague.nba.com

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Pete Nance just got a "two-way" deal with the Philly 76ers.
Essentially they just picked him off of the Cleveland G-League roster.
The Sixers will have to waive one of their 3 "two-way" players to make room for Nance.

 

[Gatabowl]

This is why a lot of guys end up going to Europe. Even with the G League it’s insanely hard to make it to and stay in the NBA.

 

[NJCat]

This is why a lot of guys end up going to Europe. Even with the G League it’s insanely hard to make it to and stay in the NBA.

It is kind of amazing that NU now has three alums on NBA rosters.....