NBA and College Basketball Financial Trends

The financial landscape of basketball is seeing significant shifts in both professional and collegiate levels. In the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. has started the season without playing any minutes despite signing a four-year, $64 million extension. His current season salary is set at $15.2 million. Speculation suggests his previous lower-salary years may have been part of an arrangement to allow the Bucks to offer a larger contract later.

In American college basketball, the financial power of university programs is rising, allowing top talents to earn substantial sums before turning professional. According to reports from The Athletic, Serbian players Milan Momčilović and Nikola Kusturica are among 18 players projected to earn at least $3.9 million during the 2026/2027 season. Some players, such as University of Florida’s Thomas Hou, could see earnings exceeding $10 million in a single season.