Now members of Spurs and Wizards, Victor Wembanyama And Bilal Coulibaly saw their lives changed last night, at only 19 and 18 years old. Already because their “American dream” has come true, but then because the number 1 and number 7 of the Draft will see their emoluments explode in the United States!
So, according to the specialized site Spotracand while they received “only” a few thousand euros per month this season (excluding sponsorship contracts), Wembanyama and Coulibaly will have a salary guaranteed of respectively 12.1 million dollars and 6.6 million in 2023/24, before moving to a salary (still guaranteed) of respectively 12.7 million dollars and 6.9 million in 2024/25.
Then, in order to keep Victor Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly in 2025/26 then in 2026/27, the leaders of San Antonio and Washington will have to activate a “team option” each time. Assuming this will be the case, Wembanyama will win 13.3 Then 16.8 million additional dollars, while Coulibaly will win 7.2 Then 9.2 million additional dollars.
A vertiginous evolution
Inevitably, with the increase in the “salary cap” (which is not over…), the contracts of the rookies are no longer the same as ten or twenty years ago.
In 2013/14the number 1 of the Draft (Anthony Bennett) thus touched “only” 4.4 million dollars in his first year in the league, when the number 7 of this same Draft (Ben McLemore) took “only” 2.4 millions of dollars.
In 2003/04the number 1 (LeBron James) won him “only” 3.3 million dollars and number 7 (Kirk Hinrich) went up to “only” 1.8 million bucks…
A vertiginous evolution therefore, so much so that the 30th choice of Draft 2023 (Kobe Brown) is now better paid (2.4 million) in his rookie year than the 1996 1st draft pick (Allen Iverson) and his 2.3 millions of dollars. In other words, five times less than Victor Wembanyama…
2023 Draft First Round Salaries
#1 — $12.1 million in 2023/24; $55.1 million over four years.
#2 — $10.8 million in 2023/24; $49.3 million over four years.
#3 — $9.7 million in 2023/24; $44.3 million over four years.
#4 — $8.8 million in 2023/24; $40.0 million over four years.
#5 — $7.9 million in 2023/24; $36.2 million over four years.
#6 — $7.2 million in 2023/24; $32.9 million over four years.
#7 — $6.6 million in 2023/24; $30.0 million over four years.
#8 — $6.0 million in 2023/24; $27.5 million over four years.
#9 — $5.5 million in 2023/24; $25.3 million over four years.
#10 — $5.3 million in 2023/24; $24.0 million over four years.
#11 — $5.0 million in 2023/24; $23.1 million over four years.
#12 — $4.7 million in 2023/24; $22.2 million over four years.
#13 — $4.5 million in 2023/24; $21.4 million over four years.
#14 — $4.3 million in 2023/24; $20.5 million over four years.
#15 — $4.0 million in 2023/24; $19.7 million over four years.
#16 — $3.8 million in 2023/24; $18.8 million over four years.
#17 — $3.7 million in 2023/24; $17.8 million over four years.
#18 — $3.5 million in 2023/24; $16.9 million over four years.
#19 — $3.3 million in 2023/24; $16.2 million over four years.
#20 — $3.2 million in 2023/24; $15.6 million over four years.
#21 — $3.0 million in 2023/24; $15.1 million over four years.
#22 — $2.9 million in 2023/24; $14.7 million over four years.
#23 — $2.8 million in 2023/24; $14.2 million over four years.
#24 — $2.7 million in 2023/24; $13.8 million over four years.
#25 — $2.6 million in 2023/24; $13.4 million over four years.
#26 — $2.5 million in 2023/24; $13.0 million over four years.
#27 — $2.4 million in 2023/24; $12.6 million over four years.
#28 — $2.4 million in 2023/24; $12.5 million over four years.
#29 — $2.4 million in 2023/24; $12.4 million over four years.
#30 — $2.4 million in 2023/24; $12.4 million over four years.
