After the Milwaukee Bucks successfully advanced to the Final Four of the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament, Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed surprise when asked about the cash bonuses his players received for advancing to the playoffs.
Antetokounmpo didn't realize that each player on each team that advances to the quarterfinals receives $50,000, with an additional $100,000 for advancing to the quarterfinals. That means Antetokounmpo pocketed $150,000 after the Bucks advanced to the semifinals.
Players on the winning team in the inaugural in-season finals will receive $200,000 each, and the winning team as a whole will receive up to $500,000 in bonuses.
Two-way players receive half the bonus of a full-time player, head coaches receive the same bonus as a full-time player, and assistant coaches receive 75 percent of the head coach's bonus.
This means that players on the championship team will receive an additional $850,000 in cash awards. While the bonus may be relatively small for the team's stars, the $425,000 bonus for winning the NBA Cup is a significant financial windfall for two-way players who make about $559,000 a year.
Bucks play Pacers in semifinals
The Bucks' road to the NBA Cup continues Thursday night when they face the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals. The Indiana Pacers became the first team to win a $100,000 bonus for their players when they defeated the title favorite Boston Celtics last Monday night. If the Bucks are able to beat the Pacers, each Bucks player will receive another $200,000 in bonuses from the league.
Antetokounmpo motivated by teammates' financial gains
Antetokounmpo is making $45.6 million a year this season, and while the financial incentives may not affect him too much, he is motivated to win for his lesser-paid teammates.
"It's not about me," Antetokounmpo said. It's about my teammates. I want to see them win for themselves and their families. That's what they deserve.
In-season tournaments add an extra dimension of excitement to the NBA season, and the financial rewards provide players with an extra incentive to be at their best.
