Based strictly on their basketball contracts, these 20 NBA players will earn the least amount of money in 2023-24.
Over the last several months, we have revealed some of the highest-paid players per position in NBA history and the players who will make the most money in 2023-24. We have even looked ahead at the players set to make at least $50 million for the 2024-25 NBA season. There are players we have revealed as the most overpaid players heading into this season as well. While focusing on the massive inflation NBA contracts have seen in recent years, we have neglected the players at the opposite end of the pay scale as the lowest-paid in the league, until now.
Most of the NBA players who are among the lowest-paid are either in their first three seasons just getting acclimated to the league or veterans nearing the end of their careers on a league minimum. The majority of the 20 lowest-paid players in the NBA in 2023-24 are the former. The most interesting fact about these 20 players is that in the 1990s and early 2000s, they would be among the top 30-40 players in terms of pay.
*Players who have been waived, are on two-way contracts, or are not on a roster for the 2023-24 season are not included on this list
These are the 20 lowest NBA players for the 2023-24 season.
T20. Bryce McGowens – $1,719,864
Credit: Brian Westerholt-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Charlotte Hornets
2023-24 Stats: 3.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Bryce McGowens was a second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. On draft night, McGowens would be traded to the Hornets, and sign a two-way deal with them in July 2022 which was converted into a regular contract by February. In 46 games as a rookie, McGowens earned $1 million and averaged 5.8 points per game on 39.6% shooting.
McGowens is one of eight players in the NBA right now due to make $1.72 million in 2023-24. With his contract being converted to a standard deal, he will earn $2 million in 2024-25 and have a team option in 2025-26 worth $2.2 million. McGowens has only appeared in five of Charlotte’s first 10 games in which they have gone 3-7.
After not appearing in the Hornets’ first five games, McGowens has been on the court for the last five, seeing anywhere from 14 to 28 minutes a night. His best performance came on November 14 when he played 28 minutes, scored 12 points, and grabbed 4 rebounds on 4-7 shooting from the field.
T20. Josh Minott – $1,719,864
Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
2023-24 Stats:1.6 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
After being traded to the Timberwolves for Bryce McGowens on the night of the 2022 NBA Draft, Josh Minott inked a four-year, $7 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That deal paid him just over a million in 2022-23 and will pay him $1.72 million this season as well as a not fully guaranteed $2 million in 2024-25.
Minott hardly got a chance for the Timberwolves in 2022-23, appearing in just 15 games for 6.4 minutes per game on average. He averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game during that time off the bench at small forward. Minott has seen even less time on the court in 2023-24, appearing in five games so far this season for a total of 13 minutes combined. The Timberwolves are currently 8-2 with the best defense in the NBA so it looks as if Minott will be seeing limited time for the foreseeable future.
T20. Jabari Walker – $1,719,864
Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 Stats: 5.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Jabari Walker is another member of the 2022 NBA Draft with a contract that will pay him $1.72 million in 2023-24. Walker was held onto by Portland after they made him their 57th overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. In 56 games as a rookie, Walker saw 11.1 minutes of action off the bench and averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
In 2023-24, and with all the shuffling Portland has done this summer, Walker has seen a slight increase in opportunity as well as production in the court. Walker has already appeared in all 10 games for the 3-7 Trail Blazers and is seeing 14.5 minutes per game. He has increased his output to 5.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 46.8% shooting.
Walker continues to compete with players such as Matisse Thybulle and others for time at small forward but continues to prove himself on both ends of the court when the chances do arise.
T20. Ryan Rollins – $1,719,864
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Washington Wizards
2023-24 Stats: 5.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Ryan Rollins was originally the 44th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. On draft night, Rollins would be traded to the Warriors where he would spend the entirety of his 2022-23 rookie season playing under the same deal we have covered with the previous four players.
In a loaded Warriors lineup, Rollins hardly saw the court for the team as they chased a repeat to their 2022 NBA championship. Rollins made only 12 appearances for 5.2 minutes on average per game. In that time, on limited opportunities, Rollins averaged 1.9 points per game shooting just 35.0% from the field.
This offseason, Rollins was included in the trade that also sent Jordan Poole to Washington and Chris Paul back to the Warriors. So far in 2023-24, Rollins has made the most of a slightly increased role with the Wizards. Rollins has already appeared in six games and nearly matched his minutes total from last season. He is averaging 5.0 points and 1.3 steals per game on 47.1% shooting while Washington has limped to a 2-8 start.
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
2023-24 Stats: 2.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Kenneth Lofton Jr. has become one of the more popular players on the lower end of the NBA’s pay scale thanks to his exceptional skill and shocking size. Lofton is currently the 10th-heaviest player in the NBA at 275 pounds but is finding less success on the court in his second season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
As an undrafted rookie in 2022-23, Lofton slowly proved himself through Summer League and G-League play. Soon, he got an opportunity with the Grizzlies that saw him appear in 24 games and averaged 5.0 points per game on 52.7% shooting. This included a 42-point, 14-rebound performance against the Thunder last season.
So far in 2023-24, Lofton has seen limited time off the bench, appearing in seven of Memphis’ 11 games for just 8.0 minutes per night. Currently, he is averaging just 2.7 points per game during that time. Lofton is currently under contract through the 2025-26 season when he will make $2.2 million on a standard deal.
T20. Max Christie – $1,719,864
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 Stats: 3.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Another second-year player tied for the 20th-highest salary in the NBA this season is Max Christie of the Los Angeles Lakers. Christie was the 35th overall pick for the Lakers in the 2022 NBA Draft and immediately became a player fans were clamoring for amid their early-season struggle to start 2022-23.
Christie would go on to play 41 games for the Lakers last season and see 12.5 minutes of action per game. Christie averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a rookie and was brought back for the second season of his two-year deal worth $2.7 million. Christie has taken on a slightly increased role with Los Angeles in 2023-24 as well and has looked decent on the court.
Christie has made seven appearances off the bench this year and has seen over 15.0 minutes each time his number gets called. He is averaging 3.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game during that time but shooting only 32.1% from the field overall. With no deal imminent for him at this moment, let’s just hope Christie gets more of an opportunity to earn himself a larger contract when he becomes a free agent this summer.
T20. Jaden Hardy – $1,719,864
Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 Stats: 8.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Of all the lower-level second-year players at this $1.72 million payscale, the one with the most potential shown in the NBA thus far is Jaden Hardy of the Dallas Mavericks. Hardy was Dallas’ prized acquisition on draft night as they traded for him following the Kings drafting him with their 37th overall pick.
Immediately as a rookie with Dallas, Hardy made an impression on coach Jason Kidd and the team with 48 games played and five starts. He averaged 8.8 points per game as a rookie on 43.8% shooting overall and 40.4% shooting from three. In his second season under his three-year, $4.7 million deal, Hardy continues to make the most of the opportunities given to him.
Hardy has seen a slight dip in minutes, down to 12.6 per game but is still an electric spark for Dallas off the bench. In nine games played in 2023-24, Hardy is averaging 8.1 points per game on 41.0% shooting but is shooting just 31.0% from three. It appears Hardy still has the respect of his coach and teammates and will continue to get opportunities as the long season progresses.
13. Jalen Pickett – $1,708,143
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Denver Nuggets
2023-24 Stats: 3.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG
It is always hard for a rookie player to come into an organization that just won an NBA title and find their way into the rotation. Rookie Jalen Pickett is finding this out the hard way right now in 2023-24. Pickett was the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers but landed with Denver as a part of a massive four-team deal on draft night.
With the Nuggets off to a hot start at 9-2, Pickett has found it difficult to find playing time on the court. Currently, he is averaging 3.0 points per game on 75.0% shooting from the floor. The 6’4’’ shooting guard has seen a slight increase in playing time since Jamal Murray went down with an injury earlier this month.
On November 14, Pickett saw 17 minutes of action on the court in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He shot 2-3 from the field and recorded 5 points along with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in those 17 minutes.
12. Julian Phillips – $1,600,000
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Chicago Bulls
2023-24 Stats: 0.0 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Rookie Julian Phillips of the Chicago Bulls is another one of the lowest-paid players for the 2023-24 season. Phillips was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 draft but was later shipped to the Wizards in the Marcus Smart-Kristaps Porzingis deal. Just days later, Phillips would be shipped to the Bulls in exchange for three second-round draft picks.
As it stands, the Bulls are on the verge of imploding entirely as they started the season 4-7 in their first 11 games. With rumors of Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso, and even DeMar DeRozan being available for trade, Phillips patiently awaits a true chance to showcase his abilities on the court.
In 2023-24, Phillips has appeared in four games for a total of 10 minutes or 2.5 minutes per game. He has taken and missed one shot during that time while also grabbing one rebound. If the Bulls are to hit the rebuild button and begin gutting their roster, there could be an increase in the time we see Phillips on the court this season. Phillips is signed with the Bulls through 2025-26 with a team option for 2026-27 worth $2.4 million.
T2. Sidy Cissoko – $1,119,563
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: San Antonio Spurs
2023-24 Stats: N/A
Sidy Cissoko is one of 11 rookies among the lowest-paid players in 2023-24, earning just $1.1 million for the 2023-24 season. Cissoko was drafted 44th overall in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. Cissoko signed a three-year, $5 million deal with the Spurs shortly after being drafted that will pay him $2.2 million by 2025-26.
Cissoko has yet to play any minutes so far in 2023-24 but if we know anything about Spurs culture, a spot on their roster means there is a plan for the future. We just have to wait and see which direction Sidy Cissoko’s future is going to go under the tutelage of coach Gregg Popovich.
T2. Filip Petrusev – $1,119,563
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Sacramento Kings
2023-24 Stats: 0.0 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Filip Petrusev was originally the Philadelphia 76ers’ 50th overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2021 NBA Draft. Petrusev spent three seasons overseas with the Anadolu Efes and Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, Serbia before inking a deal to join the 76ers for the 2023-24 season.
Earlier this month, Petrusev was shipped from the 76ers to the Clippers in the James Harden trade before being sent to the Kings later that same day. So far in 2023-24, Petrusev has appeared in one game for the 76ers on October 29 in which he grabbed 1 rebound in two minutes of play. Petrusev is under contract for the 2024-25 season as well for $1.8 million.
T2. Chris Livingston – $1,119,563
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 Stats: 2.5 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Rookie Chris Livingston of the Milwaukee Bucks is the next player on our list making $1.12 million this season. Livingston was the 58th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Bucks. Livingston earned a four-year, $7.6 million deal with the Bucks that he signed in July and that will pay him $2.2 million by 2025-26 with a team option for 2026-27.
In 2023-24, Livingston has seen extremely limited time on the court for the Bucks, appearing in two games for a total of nine minutes. In his first appearance on October 1, Livingston scored five points in five minutes on two shots from the field. He has seen just four minutes of play since that day.
T2. Rayan Rupert – $1,119,563
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 Stats: 0.3 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Rayan Rupert was just 19 years old when he was drafted 43rd overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in this summer’s NBA Draft. Rupert is a lengthy defensive guard out of France who the Trail Blazers hope can be a real contributor in their future as an extremely young and inexperienced team.
Rupert has struggled to work his way into the rotation in Portland, appearing in three games thus far in 2023-24. He has played in three games for a total of nine minutes this season for the Trail Blazers. Rupert still has plenty of time to prove his worth to Portland after signing a three-year, $5 million deal with the team this past July.
T2. Maxwell Lewis – $1,119,563
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 Stats:0.0 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Rookie Maxwell Lewis out of Pepperdine University, was taken with the 40th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. Lewis would then be involved in a massive four-team deal on draft night that landed him with the Los Angeles Lakers with whom he signed a deal through 2025-26 with a team option worth $2.4 million in 2026-27.
Lewis has seen extremely limited time at small forward for the Lakers this season with 18 minutes played in four total appearances. Even in a blowout win over the Grizzlies by 27 points, Lewis was called upon for just five minutes in which he recorded no major stats to speak of. He has grabbed 1 rebound all season and taken just three shot attempts.
T2. Mouhamed Gueye – $1,119,563
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 Stats: 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Mouhamed Gueye was formally introduced to our readers as the best player in the NBA season hailing from Senegal. Well, Gueye is the only player from Senegal in the NBA this season but you get the point. Gueye was selected 39th overall by the Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft and subsequently traded to the Celtics and then to the Hawks in the span of six days.
Gueye has yet to see more action than the two games we previously spoke about when talking about him last week. He has still only appeared in two games and has recorded just 1 steal and is shooting 0-1 from the field. Gueye is currently signed through 2025-26 although it is not fully guaranteed after inking a four-year. $7.6 million deal in July.
T2. Andre Jackson Jr. – $1,119,563
Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 Stats: 1.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Originally taken by the Orlando Magic in this year’s NBA Draft with the 36th overall pick, Andre Jackson Jr. would be dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks on draft night. Jackson was a standout at UCONN during his days in college at shooting guard and hopes to make an impact sooner rather than later for Milwaukee this season.
Jackson has already appeared in six games for the Bucks this season, playing for about 8.0 minutes per game. In his last appearance on November 13, Jackson recorded five points in 12 minutes on the court on 2-4 shooting. Jackson Jr. should see more and more time on the floor as the season progresses and is signed with the Bucks through 2026-27 when he will earn $2.4 million for the year.
T2. Toumani Camara – $1,119,563
Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 Stats: 5.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Toumani Camara is another player we have met previously as the lone current NBA player hailing from the country of Belgium. Camara was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft and traded to Portland later this summer as a part of the Damian Lillard deal to Milwaukee and the Deandre Ayton deal to Portland.
Of all the players sitting at $1.12 million in salary for the 2023-24 season, Camara has seen the most time on the court by far. Through 10 games with Portland, Camara is averaging over 24.0 minutes per game played and has even started one game. Averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, Camara already has five games with five rebounds or more and six games with five points or more.
T2. Trayce Jackson-Davis – $1,119,563
Credit: Kelley L. Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Team: Golden State Warriors
2023-24 Stats: 3.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Earlier this summer, we introduced you to Trayce Jackson Davis, son of former NBA veteran Dale Davis. Jackson-Davis would go on to be drafted by the Wizards 57th overall in this year’s NBA Draft after a successful college career at Indiana University.
After being drafted by the Wizards, Jackson-Davis would be sent to the Warriors in exchange for cash following the Jordan Polleo-Chris Paul deal. As a 23-year-old rookie, Jackson-Davis has impressed coach Steve Kerr and his teammates enough to have appeared in nine games already this season for 8.1 minutes per game. Although time has been minimal on the court, Jackson-Davis has three games with at least five points this season including 13 points and 9 rebounds in 19 minutes earlier this season against the Pelicans.
1. Gui Santos – $1,029,483
Credit: Fadeaway World
Team: Golden State Warriors
2023-24 Stats: N/A
For 21-year-old rookie Gui Santos, his NBA experience has truly yet to start. As the lowest-paid player in the NBA, that is to be expected, especially on a team with such standards and expectations as the Warriors.
Santos was Golden State’s 55th overall pick in the NBA Draft out of Brazil but has yet to see action at any point this season. He is one of 17 players from Brazil to ever play in the NBA and would be the only one rostered for the 2023-24 season once he is deemed fully eligible. For now, Santos is signed through 2023-24 for $1.03 million with no guarantee for a deal beyond that point.
