When NBA Stars Fall, Teams Get Help Paying Their Mega-Salaries
It's a devastating on-court blow for the Eastern Conference champs, who must also adjust to the departure of free agent center Myles Turner. One consolation: Insurance will cover up to $18.2 million of Haliburton's $45.6 million guaranteed salary for 2025-26.
Advertisement
More from Sportico.com
The NBA oversees a temporary total disability (TTD) insurance program for the benefit of individual teams. Each club insures a minimum of four of its highest-paid players, as defined by either the current season salary or total remaining salary. Teams have the option to insure additional players.
The policy pays out after players miss 41 consecutive regular-season games, which can span two seasons. The benefit is either 50% or 80% of the player's salary, depending on the 'tier' of coverage selected by the team—the higher tier requires a higher annual premium. Last season, the max payout was roughly $492,000 per game. The $18.2 million potential benefit for the Pacers for Haliburton is based on the higher tier, which pays 80%. Teams are responsible for the balance of the salary.
Prior versions of the NBA's TTD program covered five players on each club, and the maximum payout was $175,000 per game, and then raised to $275,000 per game as salaries climbed.
Advertisement
All-NBA star Jayson Tatum is also likely to be sidelined for most, if not all, of the season after he tore his Achilles tendon during the Boston Celtics' loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals—his $54.1 million salary for 2025-26 ranks tied for fourth in the NBA. The Celtics will collect just over $20 million based on maximum coverage.
Other high-priced stars likely to miss a chunk of next season recovering from injuries include Kyrie Irving ($36.6 million salary) and Dejounte Murray ($26.8 million salary). Irving missed the Mavericks' last 20 games of the 2024-25 season after tearing his ACL, while Murray was sidelined for the New Orleans Pelicans' final 33 games after rupturing his Achilles in January.
Damian Lillard, who suffered his own Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs, was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, who 'stretched' the remaining $112.6 million left on his contract over five years. It is unclear whether insurance will cover any of his deal. A representative for the Bucks declined to comment on the matter.
The league has a separate program for injured players for salary cap purposes. The disabled player exception (DPE) allows a team to sign one replacement player after someone suffers a season-ending injury or illness. The salary is capped at the lesser of 50% of the injured player's salary or the non-tax mid-level exemption, which is $14.1 million for the 2025-26 season. They can also acquire a player in a trade under the same salary rules, plus $100,000.
Advertisement
Best of Sportico.com
Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Iowa baseball pitcher Cade Obermueller chosen by Phillies in 2025 MLB Draft
After electing to be redrafted following a superb junior season with Iowa baseball in 2025, Hawkeyes ace pitcher Cade Obermueller has found a new city to call home when he begins his professional baseball journey. During the 2025 MLB draft Sunday night from Atlanta, GA., Obermueller was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round with the No. 63 overall pick. The 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed native of Iowa City, Iowa, finished this past season with a 5-3 record and a 3.02 ERA in 83 1/3 innings across 15 appearances on the mound for the Hawkeyes. He also recorded a career-high 117 strikeouts, which ranks second all-time in program history for strikeouts in a single season. While the Hawkeyes' season ended in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament semifinals, Obermueller earned a number of honors that included being named as a member of the 2025 All-Big Ten Tournament team, ABCA/Rawlings NCAA All-Midwest Region first-team, and the Perfect Game third-team All-American roster. His impressive junior season with the Hawkeyes allowed the southpaw to improve his pre-draft rankings, as he was listed No. 53 overall in MLB's Top 250 prospect rankings. Obermueller was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 19th round (585th pick) of the 2024 MLB draft, but chose to forgo signing with the Rangers organization to return to Iowa. Given his positioning in the draft, the approximate pick value estimated by is listed at $1.42 million. Over his three years with the program, Obermueller has amassed an overall record of 11-7 and a 3.60 ERA in 30 starts through 165 innings of work on 43 appearances. He also has accrued 226 strikeouts and one career save. The selection is also notable for the Obermueller family as Cade's father, Wes, pitched five seasons in the major leagues after the Kansas City Royals selected him out of Iowa in the second round of the 1999 MLB draft. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Grizzlies announce that Jaren Jackson Jr.'s renegotiation and extension is complete
Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr.'s signing of a $239.9 million deal that keeps him under contract for the next five seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies finally became official Sunday, one day after the team reached a buyout agreement with guard Cole Anthony to facilitate the move. Jackson is now under contract through 2029-30, after renegotiating the final year of his current deal and getting a raise to $33 million for the coming season. The extension kicks in in 2026-27, starting with a salary of $46.2 million. The sides reached the agreement two weeks ago, but the Grizzlies needed to clear the space required to make the move happen before Jackson could actually sign the contract. He averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Grizzlies in 74 games this past season and was an All-Star for the second time in his Memphis career. A three-time All-Defensive team pick — and the 2023 NBA defensive player of the year — Jackson has averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 407 career games with Memphis. Jackson had surgery for a turf toe injury earlier this month and will be re-evaluated likely sometime around the start of training camp this fall, though the Grizzlies haven't given any indication how long he will be sidelined to start the season. He suffered the injury in his right foot during offseason basketball activities, the team had said, adding that he is expected to have a full recovery. Locking up Jackson is part of a plan by Memphis to continue building around him and star point guard Ja Morant. Memphis was swept by eventual champion Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs in April. ___ AP NBA: recommended Item 1 of 3 in this topic
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Francisco Alvarez doing what Mets asked with ‘phenomenal' minor league stint
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Francisco Alvarez is thriving in a minor league uniform, perhaps leaving open only the question of when he will return to the Mets. The catcher homered for a third time in two games on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, where he owns a 1.196 OPS in July. It has also been noted by Mets officials that pitching prospect Brandon Sproat's consecutive superb starts occurred with Alvarez behind the plate. Alvarez was optioned by the Mets to Syracuse on June 22 to work on all aspects of his game. 3 Francisco Alvarez hits a home run with Triple-A Syracuse on July 13, 2025. X / @SyracuseMets 3 Francisco Alvarez hits a home run with Triple-A Syracuse on July 13, 2025. X / @SyracuseMets 'It's the work ethic, since Day 1 — how positive he has been,' manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets lost 3-2 to the Royals. 'Everything has been phenomenal. He is doing everything we are asking him to do, and he continues to put himself in a position where like, 'Hey, you know I am here.' ' Asked if Alvarez was a candidate for recall immediately after the All-Star break, Mendoza said he would be discussing the topic with president of baseball operations David Stearns. 3 Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. Kylie Richelle 'The good thing is [Alvarez] is doing a lot of the things we are asking him to do,' Mendoza said. 'He's watching the film and driving the ball to all fields and defensively there's been a lot of improvement as well, whether it's receiving, the blocking, we know the throwing has been there. A lot of good things are happening.' José Buttó, who was placed on the injured list (retroactive to July 1) with an illness, is scheduled to pitch in a minor league rehab game on Tuesday for Single-A St. Lucie, according to Mendoza. The right-hander will be evaluated afterward for a possible return to the Mets. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS Max Kranick was examined Thursday and is deciding his next step — Tommy John surgery is a possibility, according to Mendoza. Kranick was placed on the IL last month with a right elbow strain. Mendoza is waiting until later in the week before announcing his starting pitching alignment coming out of the All-Star break. Among the considerations for Friday's game against the Reds are if David Peterson is used in the All-Star game and how Sean Manaea feels following his 65-pitch appearance on Sunday in his season debut.
