With just two weeks until the start of the 2021-2022 season, let's break down the NBA's biggest potential bonuses players could earn this season. In total, there are 43 players, each with incentives, including 14 newcomers.
Once again, the media will have its say with All-NBA, All-Star and postseason honors, votes that could change the landscape for players such as the Chicago Bulls' Zach LaVine, the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here's a look at the bonuses to monitor this season, starting with players who could be eligible for a supermax contract next offseason.
The supermax
The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic has little to worry about.
By earning MVP honors last season, Jokic has qualified for a supermax extension, which would be the largest in NBA history at $254 million. However, because Jokic has only six years of service, the 26-year-old center has to wait until the 2022 offseason to sign the five-year extension. The rules of the supermax stipulate only players with seven or eight years of service are eligible to sign the extension.
Because Jokic was named MVP, he is eligible to sign the supermax in 2022, when he'll have one year left on his existing deal, or in 2023, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
LaVine, Booker and Towns are not quite as fortunate as Jokic.
