NBA salary cap for 2024-25 season set at $140.588 million
The Salary Cap and Tax Level go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday, July 1.
www.nba.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]