Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Bucks Player Earns Almost Half His Salary After NBA Cup Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Dec 18, 2024 5:04 AM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks won the 2024 NBA Cup with a 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists as Damian Lillard added 23 points for the Bucks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combined for 39 points on 16-of-44 from the field as the Thunder came up short in their lowest-scoring affair this season.

The NBA Cup featured prizes for the winner, runner-up, semifinalists, and quarterfinalist as follows, per CBS Sports:

Players who lost in the quarterfinals: $51,497
Players who lost in the semifinals: $102,994
Players who lose in the championship game: $205,988
Players who win the NBA Cup: $514,971

That means the Bucks' win earns every player $514,971 in a nice payout as the Thunder cashed in north of $200,000 despite the loss.

As it turns out, Bucks reserve point guard Ryan Rollins earned nearly half his salary in one night with a $257,485.50 payout.

Per Sportskeeda, Rollins' two-way contract is paying him $578,577 this season.

Although the prize payout is listed as $514,971, there is a loophole for players on two-way contracts, per CBS Sports:

"For players on two-way or 10-day contracts, the CBA states they "shall count as one-half of a knockout stage game for which such player was on the Team's Active or Inactive List." That means a player on a two-way contract on the team that wins the NBA Cup title in 2024 would receive $257,485.50 instead of the $514,971."

Rollins has not logged a minute for the Bucks since December 4, and he has played in just 11 games this season in the NBA.

He has alternated between the Bucks and the G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd. Rollins spent time with the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards before joining the Bucks.

The Atlanta Hawks originally drafted Rollins in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft after he played at Toledo, but he was traded to the Warriors before ever suiting up for Atlanta.

While Rollins isn't eligible for the full cash prize, the $257,485.50 payout is just under half of his entire salary for the year, so it's still a nice chunk of cash for the reserve point guard.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: