Do NBA Players Still Get Paid If They’re Injured?

Imagine this: You’re watching your favourite NBA team, and suddenly a star player goes down with an injury. He limps off the court. You might wonder… “Does he still get paid even if he doesn’t play?”

👉 The short answer: Yes — most NBA players still get paid if they’re injured.
But there’s more to it than just that. Let’s break it all down in a simple way.

🔒 Guaranteed Contracts = Guaranteed Money

Most NBA players sign what’s called a guaranteed contract. That means the team must pay them, even if they’re injured and can’t play.

👉 Example:

If a player signs a 4-year, $80 million deal, they’re promised $20 million a year. If they get injured mid-season, they still get their money. That’s the power of a guaranteed deal.

Some lesser-known players might have partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed contracts — but for most stars and starters, the money is locked in.

🛡️ What About the Teams? (Injury Insurance Helps!)

While teams still have to pay injured players, they protect themselves by buying injury insurance.

Here’s how it works:

• If a player misses 41 straight games (half the season), the insurance kicks in.
• The insurance company pays back around 80% of the player’s salary.
• The player still gets paid in full — the insurance just helps the team cover costs.

So both the player and the team are protected.

⚖️ Why 41 Games?

An NBA season has 82 games. Missing 41 means a player is out for half the season. This rule helps prevent teams from claiming insurance for short-term injuries.

🏥 Special Rules for Serious Injuries

🔁 The Disabled Player Exception (DPE)

If a player is seriously injured and expected to miss the rest of the season, teams can apply for a Disabled Player Exception.

This lets them sign or trade for a new player even if they’ve already hit the salary cap.

Important: The injured player still gets paid — the DPE just gives the team a way to stay competitive.

🧾 Career-Ending Injuries

If doctors and the NBA agree a player can’t ever return, the team can remove their salary from the cap.

But don’t worry — the player still receives the money from their contract or insurance.

💸 How NBA Players Are Paid

• Most NBA players are paid twice a month (24 paychecks per season).
• Some have deals with bonuses or lump sums — but usually, the money keeps coming even if they’re injured.

🛑 When Don’t NBA Players Get Paid?

There are a few exceptions:

• If a player is suspended for breaking league rules (e.g. drug use or legal issues), they don’t get paid for those missed games.
• If a player’s contract is non-guaranteed, the team can cut them without paying the full amount — but this is rare.

For injuries that happen during games or team practices, players almost always get paid.

🏥 What About Workers’ Compensation?

Yes — NBA players can file for workers’ compensation, just like any other employee. This is extra protection and can help cover medical costs and long-term care.

🧠 Real-Life Examples

• Grant Hill: Missed almost 3 full seasons, but was still paid thanks to his guaranteed contract and team insurance.
• Chris Bosh: Had a career-ending condition but still received his full pay. His salary was later removed from the team’s cap.

✅ Quick Recap: Do NBA Players Get Paid When Injured?

Situation	Do They Get Paid?
Guaranteed Contract	✅ Yes
Non-Guaranteed Contract	❌ Maybe Not
Injured During a Game	✅ Yes
Suspended for Breaking Rules	❌ No
Career-Ending Injury	✅ Yes (via insurance or contract)
Team Uses Disabled Player Exception	✅ Yes (Player still gets paid)

👀 So, What’s the Bottom Line?

When an NBA star gets injured, fans worry about their recovery. But one thing you don’t have to worry about? Their paycheck.

The NBA’s contract system is built to protect players — and most still receive their full salary during injury time.

Teams also protect themselves with insurance and special rules, so the business side keeps moving even when things get rough.

So next time a player goes down, you can say:
“Don’t worry — they’re still getting paid.” 💼💰