What is an Exhibit 10 contract in the NBA? Simple guide for basketball fans
An Exhibit 10 contract in the NBA is a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum salary contract with a specific clause, Exhibit 10, that allows teams to convert the deal into a two-way contract, or offer a bonus if the player joins their G League affiliate after being released from the team.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- A player under the Exhibit 10 contract receives the minimum NBA salary depending on their years of experience.
- Exhibit 10 contracts are typically non-guaranteed, meaning teams can waive the player before the regular season with no cap penalty.
- A player under the Exhibit 10 contract programme can either bag a two-way deal, be retained on the main roster, or be waived.
- Exhibit 10 contracts were introduced in 2017 in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
What is an Exhibit 10 contract?
An Exhibit 10 contract in the NBA is a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal. It is designed primarily for undrafted or fringe players invited to a team's training camp.
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What are some of the key features of an Exhibit 10 deal?
As Spotrac explains, the contract in Exhibit 10 in the NBA has key features and purposes. These include:
- Training camp invite: The contract guarantees the player a spot in the team's training camp. This allows them to contest for a place on the regular-season roster.
- Convertible to two-way contract: Before the regular season begins, the team can convert an Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way contract if the player impresses during camp.
- G League incentive: If the player is waived and joins the team's G League affiliate, they can earn a bonus if they remain with the affiliate for at least 60 days. This bonus is meant to encourage players to stay in the G League rather than seek opportunities overseas.
- Roster and cap flexibility: Teams can have up to six players on Exhibit 10 contracts at a time, and these contracts do not count against the salary cap if the player is waived before the regular season.
- Non-Guaranteed: The contract is not guaranteed, meaning the team can release the player at any time without further financial obligation beyond what is specified in the Exhibit 10 attachment.
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What is the 10-day contract rule?
The 10-day contract rule in the NBA allows teams to sign players to short-term contracts that last for 10 days or three regular-season games, whichever period is longer. Typically, teams can start signing players to 10-day contracts beginning January 5 each season and continue until 10 days before the end of the regular season or until game 80.
A team can sign the same player to a maximum of two standard 10-day contracts in a season. After the second, the team must either sign the player for the rest of the season or let him go. However, under exceptional hardship circumstances, teams can sign additional 10-day contracts beyond the standard two-per-player limit.
How much is an NBA 10 contract?
An NBA 10-day contract pays players a prorated portion of the league minimum salary based on their years of NBA experience. For instance, according to Marca, a rookie or first-year player's salary is around $61,500, while a veteran with 10+ years of experience can earn around $190,000.
Besides the Exhibit 10 contract salary, a player can earn a bonus of between $5,000 and $75,000. However, this depends on whether the player joins and remains with the G League affiliate for 60 days.
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What is a two-way contract?
A two-way contract in the NBA allows teams to develop young players by having them split time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate. Some of the key features of the two-way contract include:
- Players with fewer than four years of NBA experience are eligible for two-way contracts.
- Each NBA team can have up to three players on two-way contracts at a time, as per the 2023 CBA update.
- Two-way players earn half the value of the rookie minimum salary, estimated at $636,435 for the 2025-26 season.
- Two-way players can be active for up to 50 NBA games in a season but are not eligible for the NBA playoffs.
- If a player is not waived by January 7, their remaining salary becomes fully guaranteed for the season.
How many Exhibit 10 contracts can a team have?
A team can have a maximum of six Exhibit 10 contracts at any given time. Additionally, these contracts may not be extended or renegotiated.
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Trivia facts
- Only NBA teams with a G League affiliate can offer the Exhibit 10 bonus.
- Teams with strong G League programs, like the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Oklahoma City Thunder, are known for extensively using Exhibit 10 contracts to develop talent.
- Several now-established NBA players began on Exhibit 10 deals, including Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and Tacko Fall.
- Exhibit 10 contracts are especially common among undrafted free agents, as they provide a direct pathway to both NBA training camp and a potential G League bonus.
Exhibit 10 contracts empower players to prove themselves and earn NBA chances. They also provide financial incentives to develop within team systems and G League affiliates. For teams, Exhibit 10 deals offer roster flexibility and talent evaluation without risk.
READ ALSO: NBA G League salary breakdown
Briefly.co.za published an article discussing the salary breakdowns in the NBA G League, previously known as the NBA D (Development) League.
Lately, the G League basketball has gained prominence due to its role of nurturing young talents into the NBA. The players' salaries and values then increase.
Source: Briefly News
