NBA CBA 101: Everything to know about new agreement, from ...
The NBA made some key tweaks in the new CBA that was agreed to over the weekend
www.cbssports.comHere’s the latest on NBA salary cap based on the most recent public reports I can verify.
Direct answer
- For the 2025-26 season the cap rose to $154.647 million, the maximum 10% increase allowed under the current framework. The corresponding tax level for that season is $187.895 million.[3]
Key context and recent trends
- The NBA uses a cap-smoothing mechanism, so yearly increases are capped at 10% even if revenue grows more rapidly; 2025-26 hit the 10% cap, with a cap of $154.647M.[6][3]
- Earlier years saw smaller increases (for example, 2024-25 cap was set at $140.588M, a modest rise from 2023-24) as the league began navigating projections and new media revenue.[1][4]
What this means for teams
- Team payrolls and max contracts must fit within the cap figure of $154.647M for 2025-26, with luxury-tax implications kicking in above the tax threshold of $187.895M.[3]
- Because increases are capped, teams can plan multi-year contracts with more predictable annual cap growth, rather than dramatic single-season jumps.[6]
Illustrative note
- If you’re evaluating a team’s salary sheet, treat 2025-26 as the base year for cap planning, then apply the 10% annual cap-growth rule in subsequent seasons unless the CBA changes.[3]
Citations
- NBA cap 2025-26 set at $154.647M; tax level $187.895M.[3]
- Cap increases are capped at 10% per season under current framework (cap-smoothing).[6]
- 2024-25 cap set at $140.588M; tax level $170.814M (for historical context).[4][1]