With NBL total team spends revealed for 2023/24, the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ are now clearly visible for fans to see.
TOTAL TEAM CAP SPEND 2023-24
- Perth Wildcats $2,407,957
- Adelaide 36ers $2,262,445
- Tasmania JackJumpers $2,223,102
- Melbourne United $2,151,084
- Sydney Kings $2,042,070
- New Zealand Breakers $1,870,560
- Illawarra Hawks $1,809,796
- South East Melbourne Phoenix $1,779,641
- Brisbane Bullets $1,701,134
- Cairns Taipans $1,644,917
The salary cap was set at $1,820,245, a number that was exceeded by six teams: the Wildcats, 36ers, JackJumpers, Melbourne United, the Sydney Kings, and New Zealand Breakers.
While the total spends of each NBL team from both NBL23 AND NBL24 showed a notable increase in money spent around the league, primarily due to the three-year broadcast rights deal worth more than AUS$45 million (US$33.1 million) the league signed with ESPN, Foxtel and News Corporation signed last year and increased fan attendance is clear to see.
| NBL23 SPEND | NBL24 SPEND | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Spend (Mil) | Rank | Spend (Mil) | +/- (Mil) | Avg. Rank | |
| 36ers | 1 | 2.92 | 2 | 3.26 | 0.34 | 1 |
| Wildcats | 3 | 2.64 | 1 | 3.65 | 1.01 | 2 |
| United | 5 | 2.39 | 4 | 3.16 | 0.77 | 3 |
| Kings | 4 | 2.40 | 5 | 2.98 | 0.58 | 4 |
| Bullets | 6 | 2.35 | 6 | 2.81 | 0.46 | 5 |
| Phoenix | 2 | 2.85 | 9 | 2.79 | -0.06 | 6 |
| JackJumpers | 8 | 2.05 | 3 | 3.27 | 1.22 | 7 |
| Hawks | 7 | 2.26 | 7 | 2.91 | 0.65 | 8 |
| Breakers | 9 | 1.80 | 6 | 2.96 | 1.16 | 9 |
| Taipans | 10 | 1.65 | 10 | 2.09 | 0.44 | 10 |
| Average | - | 2.33 | - | 2.99 | 0.66 | |
Going into the 2023-24 season, the salary cap was set at $1,820,245.40; a number that was exceeded by six teams: the Wildcats, 36ers, JackJumpers, United, Kings, and Breakers.
The JackJumpers, who ultimately won the NBL championship, did so with heavily increased spend on their playing roster and proved for the second year in a row a team doesn’t need to be among the highest spenders in order to win a title (Sydney winning the previous NBL championship whilst having the fourth highest league spend).
The total spend of each team is calculated after agent fees and non-cap exempt bonuses are paid and while approximate spends are what the NBL uses to make its calculations, these are the final values distributed across the league.
This season, the total luxury tax ($697,621) is $697,621, with 35% of that coming from the Wildcats. Perth ($246,416), Adelaide ($152,840), Tasmania ($133,169), Melbourne ($97,160), Sydney ($55,456), and New Zealand ($12,578) luxury tax will now be distributed among the four teams that remained under the cap: Illawarra, South East Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns, on a per-needs basis (determined by the league).
Other notes:
- Although these calculations are considered the final numbers by the NBL, there’s believed to be a $0-$50k discrepancy between them. This disparity would mean it’s unclear who would sit in second place, Adelaide ($2,262,445) or Tasmania ($2,223,102), as would who sits in sixth would be unclear, New Zealand ($1,870,560) or Illawarra ($1,809,796) and which team would have spent the least, Brisbane ($1,701,134) or Cairns ($1,644,917).
- Aron Baynes had the highest listed contract value in the NBL last season.
- Cairns, the league’s lowest spender, would play the season without any Marquee Players and finish with a cap spend of $1,644,917.69 (almost 10% below the salary cap).
- Cairns (2023) and Illawarra (2024) are the only teams to have made the postseason (top six) without spending over the luxury tax.