LAS VEGAS — “Just give me my money!”
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams could be heard uttering that TikTok trend right after his Thunder eliminated the Rockets in the NBA Cup semifinals — and he will get paid.
How much do players get paid for winning the NBA Cup? Each player on the winning team for the NBA Cup will take home more than half a million dollars. Here’s a breakdown of the prize payouts:
• NBA Cup champion: $514,971
• Player on losing team in championship game: $205,988
• Players on losing teams in Saturday’s semifinals: $102,944
• Players on losing teams in quarterfinals: $51,497
Coaches often try to play down the money as a motivating factor, but even they have a hard time selling it.
“It’s funny, a lot of people say it’s the money, and it’s not; it’s the competition,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Now, the guys who aren’t playing, it’s the money. You know, I’ve never been hugged more by our rookies in my life than after that game. They were celebrating like it was a big game.”
The players are more direct.
“[The NBA Cup does have a certain energy to it that makes it very competitive. It’s probably because of the money…” Jalen Williams said. “Obviously, everybody wants free money.”
Or, as another player put it to NBC Sports,” money is money.”
And they are motivated to get it.
