The National Basketball Association (NBA) has reached an agreement on a new media deal worth $76 billion over 11 years. This deal ensures that player salaries will continue to rise in the coming years and will bring changes to how viewers access the game.
The agreement, which is the longest and most valuable in NBA history, will come into effect for the 2025-26 season. Games will still be broadcasted on ESPN and ABC, and some will also be available on NBC and Amazon Prime. TNT Sports, a long-standing broadcasting partner, has a five-day window to match one of the new deals before potentially being omitted from the broadcasting family.
In the immediate future, the deal signifies an expected annual increase of 10% in the league’s salary cap, as per the terms of the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement. This could result in players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic earning around $80 million each in the 2030-31 season, with top players possibly reaching $100 million per season by the mid-2030s.
This agreement paves the way for the NBA’s next major objective: expansion. Commissioner Adam Silver has outlined expansion plans after achieving labor peace and securing a new media deal. Cities like Las Vegas, Seattle, Montreal, Vancouver, and Kansas City are considered potential locations for new franchises.
The escalating value of broadcast rights packages over the past 25 years has considerably impacted player salaries due to the revenue’s influence on the salary cap. The new deal surpasses previous records and underscores the financial growth the league has experienced.
Comparing the initial deal from 1998 to the latest agreement starting in 2025, the total value has surged by about 2,800%. Even when considering inflation during this period, the increase remains substantial at around 1,400%. This deal signifies a significant milestone in the NBA’s financial evolution, setting the stage for continued growth and development in the league.
