As first-round picks enter the NBA, they have a fixed rookie salary. Flagg, the No. 1 pick, will make more in his rookie contract than anyone else. He can earn up to 120% of the rookie scale in each of the first three years, and then a 26.1% increase over his third-year salary in year four. Assuming the Mavericks offer Flagg 120% in their contract, he’s in line to make $62,730,226 over his first four seasons in the NBA. Michael Ginnitti, founder of Spotrac, mapped out Flagg’s prospective earnings from there. And, spoiler, he could approach a billion dollars by the time he turns 31. Flagg’s rookie deal will end in 2028. If he plays well for the Mavericks and earns two All-NBA nods or wins MVP or Defensive Player of the Year, he’ll be eligible for a supermax extension that’s 30% of the salary cap. With the latest salary cap projections, that would make his next contract worth $359 million over five seasons. Let’s assume Flagg continues high-level play by the time that contract wraps up in 2033. He’ll be eligible for another supermax extension, this one worth 35% because he’ll have served enough time in the NBA. That contract, which would run through the 2037-38 season, could go as high as $509 million across five seasons. Add all those numbers together, and Flagg would make $930 million. Perhaps the craziest part is that he’ll only be 31 years old by the time those three contracts are done. Flagg was selected at 18 years, 186 days old, making him the second-youngest No. 1 pick ever behind only LeBron James, who was eight days younger.
Rookie Contract 2025-2028: $62.7M 30% Supermax Extension 2029-2033: $359M 35% Supermax Extension 2034-2038: $509M Total: $930M, and Flagg will be 31-years-old! — Spotrac (@spotrac) June 25, 2025 A lot will have to go right for Flagg to make all that money, of course. He’ll need to play at a superstar level and avoid significant injuries. He’ll have to be voted into All-NBA honors or other major awards. And the NBA salary cap needs to continue accelerating. Who knows exactly what television and streaming deals will look like over the next decade? Still, it’s an impressive number to behold. For now, Flagg will look to endear himself to a franchise that’s coming off a season to forget.
