In a stunning, long-awaited victory, the New York Knicks, for the first time in 53 years, are the best team in the NBA, clinching the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy as they beat out the the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday, June 13.
Both the Knicks and the Spurs entered the finals after high-stakes playoff rounds, the Knicks sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Spurs beat the Oklahoma Thunder in a tense game seven.
Now, not only can the Knicks celebrate their much-deserved victory — their parade in New York City is set for Thursday, June 18 — but they will also be raking in the cash prize for coming out on top. Here's what to know about the championship prize bucket.
© Getty ImagesHow much do NBA players make for winning the championship?
NBA players already earn a good living. The athletes earn the highest salaries amongst American professional athletes, with players earning $11.8 million on average per year. Per Sportico, the winners of the 2026 NBA Championships could earn as much as $9.1 million, split amongst the team members.
Don't worry, the losing team still takes home some cash, a cool $3.9 million.
© Getty ImagesHow much do NBA players make from the playoff games?
The NBA rewards its teams for successful seasons. The total pot available for teams who make the playoffs is $35 million and how they performed during the regular season. It's divided by who wins what games.
The team with the best record takes home an extra $896k. During the 2026 season, that team was the Oklahoma City Thunder. Teams that make the first round earn $481k each.
Meaning, the Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and the Philadelphia 76ers all earned almost $500k.
© Getty ImagesDuring the semifinals, teams take home $586k and for making the finals, teams earn $980k. So far, the Knicks have earned $2.5 million, while the Spurs have brought in $2.6 million.
How much money did the Knicks earn from the championship?
For winning the 2026 NBA Championship, the New York Knicks organization and players earned a combined $9.5 million.
The players themselves are splitting a championship bonus payout of roughly $9.1 million, with approximately $770,000 going to each player, while the franchise also received an additional $471,000 for finishing as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Who is the highest paid player in the NBA finals?
While every player that competed in the NBA finals is well compensated for their work, Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks is the highest paid player. For the 2025-2026 season, the 30-year-old center, who is engaged to Jordyn Woods, earned a base salary of $53 million.
Fellow Knicks star OG Anunoby, who went down in NBA Finals history for his epic tip-in that won the team Game 4, made $39.5 million, while the team's point guard, captain, and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson earned $34.9 million. He famously took a massive $113 million pay cut by signing a four-year, $156.5 million extension with the Knicks in 2024, rather than waiting to negotiate a supermax deal in free agency the next year, clearing the salary cap space needed to acquire championship roster members like Karl and Mikal Bridges, and increase OG's salary.
© Getty ImagesThe Spurs have a considerably smaller payroll. Their highest paid player is DeAaron Fox, who earned a base salary of $37 million. And their star player, the 7'4" center, Victor Wembanyama, earns just $13.3 million.
Outside of the teams facing off in the finals, Stephen Curry is the highest paid player in the league. The longtime point guard on the Golden State Warriors earns a base salary of $59.6 million, with Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers coming in second, earning $55 million in 2026.
