What is the two-way contract in the NBA? (2024)

At the start of the 2017-18 season, the NBA introduced two-contracts, which allows a player to sign a guaranteed deal with an NBA franchise and play for both its NBA professional team and its G-League affiliate. For example, if a player signs a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls, he will be able to play for Chicago’s G-League team, the Windy City Bulls.

NBA two-ways contracts explained

The two-way contract was introduced to benefit un-drafted players who do not make the cut in the NBA Draft and enables teams to keep these players “on retainer” without having to sign to a full-time contract. Players drafted during the first or second-round of an NBA draft are also often signed to two-way contracts. Two-way players are often considered to be the “16th and 17th men” on a roster. Each NBA team is allowed to offer two two-way contracts per season to players with fewer than four years of NBA experience.

Who took all those jobs?

48 players selected in the 2022 NBA Draft are on a roster.

An additional 34 players signed Two Way contracts that were not in the league last year. https://t.co/W2nvwhXUbe

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 15, 2022

Several players have signed two-way deals in the last couple of years, including Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr., who signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers after going unselected in the 2021 Draft, and Austin Reaves and Joel Ayayi, who both signed with the LA Lakers and played with the South Bay Lakers. This season the Lakers have brought in Scotty Pippen Jr. as one of their two allocations (see below for full list).

The Portland Trail Blazers are converting center Olivier Sarr to a two-way contract, source tells ESPN. Sarr played 22 games for OKC as a rookie after college stops at Wake Forest and Kentucky.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 13, 2022

Two-way contract rule changes

Two-way players were originally permitted to spend 45 days per season with their NBA team but were ineligible to play in the playoffs. However as a result of the pandemic, the league permitted two-way players to become eligible for the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

From the 2020-21 season, the amount of time a two-way player could play with his NBA team was increased to 50 games, while the minimum salary for two-way contracts increased from an initial $81,955 minimum to an overall salary worth up to $449,155.

For the 2021-22 season, the NBA Board of Governors also approved changes to roster-related rules regarding the use of two-way players during the regular season.

As per that NBA communique: “For the 2021-22 season, each two-way player will be paid a flat salary equal to 50% of the minimum player salary applicable to a player with zero years of service. A player under a two-way contract will be permitted to be on the NBA team’s active list for no more than 50 games during the regular season, with no limit on practices, workouts or other activities with the NBA team.

“In addition, there will be no deadline for signing two-way contracts with respect to the 2021-22 season, a change from the rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that prohibits teams from signing a player to a two-way contract after Jan. 15 of any season.”

Which NBA players are on two-way deals in 2022/23?

For the 2022/23 season, here are the two-way players (* in first of two years):

Atlanta Hawks

Trent Forrest, G

Jarrett Culver, G

Boston Celtics

JD Davison, G

Mfiondu Kabengele, C

Brooklyn Nets

Alondes Williams, G

David Duke, G

Charlotte Hornets

Bryce McGowens, G

Theo Maledon, G

Chicago Bulls

Malcolm Hill, F

Kostas Antetokounmpo, F

Cleveland Cavaliers

Isaiah Mobley, F

Mamadi Diakite, F/C

Dallas Mavericks

Tyler Dorsey, G

McKinley Wright IV, G

Denver Nuggets

Collin Gillespie, G

Jack White, F

Detroit Pistons

Braxton Key, F

Buddy Boeheim, G

Golden State Warriors

Ty Jerome, G

Anthony Lamb, G/F

Houston Rockets

Trevor Hudgins, G

Darius Days, F

Indiana Pacers

Kendall Brown, F

Trevelin Queen, G

Los Angeles Clippers

Moussa Diabate, F

Moses Brown, C

Los Angeles Lakers

Scotty Pippen Jr., G

Cole Swider, F *

Memphis Grizzlies

Kenneth Lofton Jr., F

Vince Williams Jr., F *

Miami Heat

Jamal Cain, F

Dru Smith, G

Milwaukee Bucks

Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C

AJ Green, G

Minnesota Timberwolves

Eric Paschall, F

Luka Garza, F

New Orleans Pelicans

Dereon Seabron, G

E.J. Liddell, F *

New York Knicks

Feron Hunt, F

Trevor Keels, G

Oklahoma City Thunder

Lindy Waters III, G

Eugene Omoruyi, F

Orlando Magic

Admiral Schofield, F

Kevon Harris, G *

Philadelphia 76ers

Julian Champagnie, G/F

Michael Foster Jr., F

Phoenix Suns

Duane Washington Jr., G

Ish Wainright, F

Portland Trail Blazers

Olivier Sarr, C

John Butler, C (reported)

Sacramento Kings

Keon Ellis, G

Neemias Queta, C

San Antonio Spurs

Dominick Barlow, F

Jordan Hall, G/F *

Toronto Raptors

Ron Harper Jr., G/F

Jeff Dowtin, G

Utah Jazz

Johnny Juzang, G/F

Micah Potter, C *

Washington Wizards

Jordan Schakel, G

Jordan Goodwin, G

(h/t hoopsrumors)

What is the two-way contract in the NBA? (2024)

FAQs

What is the two-way contract in the NBA? ›

The two-way contract is a contract that a team can offer to two players per year (so the 16th and 17th spots), and it allows the player to spend up to 45 days in the NBA with that team, and the remainder playing for the team's G-League affiliate.

How does NBA 2 way contract work? ›

Players signed to Two-Way Contracts are paid one salary for their time in both leagues. Only players with three or fewer years of NBA service are able to sign Two-Way Contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

What are 2 way contract games in the NBA? ›

A player under a two-way contract will be permitted to be on the NBA team's active list for no more than 50 games during the regular season, with no limit on practices, workouts or other activities with the NBA team.

Do two-way players get paid? ›

A two-way contract is a professional sports contract that stipulates that an athlete's salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play. This is opposed to a one-way contract that would pay the same salary regardless of where the athlete is assigned to play.

What is a 2 way player in NBA? ›

Commonly used in basketball, a two-way player excels at both the offensive side of the game and the defensive side of the game. Some of the best two-way players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) have been awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

What is NBA minimum salary? ›

The minimum salary for players signing contracts in the 2023-2024 NBA season amounted to over 1.1 million U.S. dollars. This is the first time that the minimum salary has exceeded the one million dollar mark, with the minimum salary in the 2021-2022 season estimated at just over 925 thousand U.S. dollars.

Who is the highest paid G League player in NBA? ›

Dallas high schooler Dink Pate turns pro, becomes 'highest paid player in the G League'

How much is the average G League salary? ›

Sources: For the first time, NBA G League salaries will now be over $40,000 per player ($40,500), up from $37,000. Since forming a union in 2020, G League salaries have increased by over $5,000. It's also worth noting that there are also two-way contracts in the G League.

How much do G League players make? ›

How much money do G League players make? Players in the G League sign one-year contracts with the league, not the NBA team or its affiliate. That excludes two-way players or players on assignment. The minimum salary for a five-to-six month season is $40,500.

What is the NBA rookie minimum salary? ›

NBA 2023-24 Minimum Salary Scale
YOSYear 1Year 4
0$1,119,563
1$1,801,769
2$2,019,706
3$2,092,354$2,406,205
7 more rows
Nov 15, 2023

How much is a 10 day contract in the NBA? ›

Salaries For 10-Day Contracts In 2023/24
Years in NBASalary
0$64,343
1$103,550
2$116,075
3$120,250
7 more rows
Jan 5, 2024

Do Triple A players get paid? ›

Triple-A salaries will increase from $17,500 to $35,800. Housing standards, especially for players with families, have also been improved in the CBA. And going forward, new signees who sign at 19 or older will be eligible for minor league free agency after six seasons.

Can 2 way NBA players be traded? ›

Can players on two-way contracts be traded? Players on two-way contracts can be included in trades. However, they can't be dealt within 30 days of being signed, and their salaries don't generate trade exceptions for NBA teams.

Is LeBron James a two-way player? ›

He eclipsed the 30 points per game mark for the first time in his career, did a much better job of getting to the foul line and continues to be a sound defensive player, making him precisely the kind of two-way wing every NBA team would love to have.

Was Kobe a 2 way player? ›

“But I want to score 30, and you score zero” - Kobe Bryant on becoming an elite two-way player. Bryant wanted to be a lights-out scorer while being a lockdown defender. It was around 2003 or 2004 when Kobe Bryant adopted the "Black Mamba" persona to separate his personal and professional lives.

Why is it called a two-way contract? ›

A two-way contract allows players to suit up for both an NBA team and its NBA G League affiliate. Introduced in 2017, this type of contract has been extremely useful as it allows teams to develop certain players without a full financial or roster commitment.

How many games can you play on a two-way contract? ›

Only players with three or fewer years of NBA service are eligible for two-way contracts, and players in two-way contract slots are only eligible to be active in a maximum of 50 games with their NBA team, according to the G League. These players spend the rest of the season with their team's G League.

Do 2 way players get a ring in NBA? ›

It's an unwritten rule that any player that played for a team at any point during the season that has won an NBA championship is offered a ring even if they are no longer playing for that team or are traded.

What is the rookie minimum salary in the NBA? ›

For the 2022-23 NBA season, the league minimum salaries have been set at various levels depending on a player's experience in the league. The rookie minimum salary has been set at $953,000 per year, while long-time veterans with over 10 years of experience can expect a minimum salary of $2.72 million per year.

How do NBA contracts pay out? ›

How do NBA players receive their salaries? NBA contracts are paid bi-weekly during the NBA season. According to Business Insider , typically the contract pays out in installments of twice a month. However, there are instances where NBA players would asked salaries paid in advance.

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