NBA Reintroduces 10-Day Contracts: Here’s the Pay Scale

The NBA is set to reinstate a valuable tool for teams navigating roster challenges: standard 10-day contracts. As of January 2, 2026, franchises can now ink players to these short-term agreements, which provide flexibility without long-term commitments, as highlighted by hoopswire.com.

While hardship exception contracts have been available throughout the season, the standard 10-day contracts offer a unique opportunity for teams to bolster their rosters temporarily. These deals allow teams to quickly adapt to injuries or other roster disruptions by adding players to their 15-man lineup for a short, defined period.

Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, all 10-day contracts are structured to reflect the league minimum salary, which varies depending on a player’s experience in the NBA. The distinction between rookie and veteran minimums is significant and is crucial for teams considering signings during this period.

For the 2025-26 season, the league calendar spans 174 days. This timeframe is utilized to calculate a player’s compensation, as the minimum salary is divided by the total number of days to derive a daily rate. This figure is then multiplied by ten to establish the total value of a 10-day contract.

According to hoopswire.com, the salary breakdown for players on these contracts is as follows:

– 0 years of experience: $73,153
– 1 year: $117,730
– 2 years: $131,970
– 3 years: $136,717
– 4 years: $141,463
– 5 years: $153,330
– 6 years: $165,197
– 7 years: $177,064
– 8 years: $188,932
– 9 years: $189,872
– 10+ years: $208,859

This pay structure provides teams with a cost-effective means to address immediate needs while also offering players a chance to showcase their skills on a larger stage. The reintroduction of these contracts is particularly timely as teams gear up for the second half of the season, where playoff aspirations are at stake.

For players, a 10-day contract is an opportunity to prove their worth and potentially secure a more permanent position. The increased exposure can lead to longer-term deals, which is something many undrafted or fringe players hope to achieve.

Moreover, teams looking to make a playoff push can utilize this strategy to bring in fresh talent without incurring significant financial risk. The ability to evaluate a player over ten days could be pivotal in determining the right fit for a team’s system.

As the season progresses, keep an eye on which players are signed to these contracts and how they impact their new teams. The landscape of the NBA can shift dramatically with these short-term signings, making them an intriguing aspect of the league’s midseason maneuvering.