Some NBA Bench Players on each team do not start, but are still paid a starting five's salary. Whether it's a big man who can score on the spot or a proven scorer who was cut from the starting rotation because of a trade or a veteran who is just on the team in case of injury, some of the highest-paid players in the league never even start a game for the first team.
This guide will outline who those reserves will likely be in nba 2026-27, why teams are willing to pay for bench-level minutes at starter-level prices, and how that fits into the league's salary structure.
In short, the top true reserves in the NBA are making eight-figure salaries, many of which are higher than their respective starters, not for expected minutes, but for their past performance, how they are paid, and to insure rosters.
Front offices don't set out to overpay bench depth on purpose. The majority of these contracts were negotiated when the player was expected to start or were signed as restricted free agents and Bird-rights re-signings, which are based on past performances and not a guaranteed job. A guard can start a game for 30 minutes, and be moved to the bench a year later due to a trade, a young player's improvement, or a coaching change, but the amount of money on the contract remains unchanged.
The pattern is represented by well known archetypes and real players and is not meant to be an exact and ranked salary structure, but rather taken from a real contract database to be verified before it's published prior to nba 2026-27.
| Archetype | Example-type player | Bench role | Why the money is starter-level |
| Instant-offense stretch big | Naz Reid–type deal (Minnesota re-signed him with a multi-year extension reported in the $100M+ range) | Sixth man scoring/spacing | The Sixth Man of the Year–calibre production that the team seems to be in control of in restricted free agency. |
| Veteran frontcourt scorer | Bobby Portis–type deal | Rebounding/scoring off the bench | Multiple, short-term re-signings that build up to a viable annual value. |
| Journeyman instant offense | Malik Beasley/Jordan Clarkson–type deal | Instant bucket-getter | Consistently getting goals and assists on the bench in multiple seasons |
| Former max-level starter, now reserve | Ben Simmons–type situation | Insurance/depth | Signed as a franchise starter and moved to the bench due to injury and/or fit later, the money doesn't go away. |
| Stretch-four/five depth | Kelly Olynyk/Christian Wood–type deal | Floor-spacing reserve big | Strong outside shooting from a big man continues to be rare and is rewarded |
It's not a poor roster planning, it's a four consistent mechanics.
Teams are allowed to renew the contracts of players with three years of Bird rights (without moving teams by free agency) over the salary cap. Even if he's only playing in the bench, teams will still pick him up on a regular basis to avoid the prospect of him entering open free agency.
Trade or sign-and-trade contracts often have to be similar to salary within a fairly small range as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. That mechanic at times pays a starter's salary to a player who will only come off the bench on his new team because of fit.
The value of depth and proven health is becoming more and more important in the front office. A veteran who has been available for the entire 82-game season is more valuable in the "what if our star gets hurt" category than a cheaper, less-tested option, even if he isn't playing as many minutes.
If a player is a Sixth Man of the Year, or has decent bench numbers and contributed well for the team in the last two or three years, he will have an actual trade value and free agency value. That is the value that will be paid out in his next contract, regardless of whether or not the next team will start him or bench him.
The salary gap between the top bench salary and mid tier starter salary is not that big as we often believes. With a roster based on one or two max-salary players and a lot of minimum or rookie players, the highest-paid reserve might make more than two or three of the starters.
Hence, 'value' discussions do not always finish with the first person. Just like the best contracts are the best and the worst are the worst, a player that can be a bargain for 18-20 minutes per game can also be an albatross, depending on the efficiency and health.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, those who are able to make a big paycheck instead of a small one, see our companion piece on the best minimum salary contracts in the league.
When reading a betting board, it's important to know who is on the roster, starters and bench, as it can make the difference between a back-to-back or a garbage time blow out. Sports OKBet is an easy way for Filipino bettors to monitor the market throughout the season.
The NBA should not be a game to make up for losses, it should be fun. Establish a limit before the season begins and adhere to it, no matter how well or poorly a game or a bench unit does, and stop playing if it no longer feels like fun. PAGCOR's Responsible Gaming page provides tools, self-exclusion and support resources.
The highest paid NBA bench players prove that a contract isn't made because of how many minutes a player plays tonight. As the NBA 2026-27 season approaches, keep an eye out for these underrated players who have the potential to exceed their salary expectations, and stay updated on all NBA games with the latest lines and props on Sports OKBet.
The majority of these contracts were based on previous output and the fact that they were restricted free agents or had a trade-salary match, but not a guaranteed starting position. The amount of money is based on what a player has already accomplished, not his current position.
Typically, those who have come in from the bench and hit for the bigs, or former starters who became bench players because of a trade or injury. Check current season numbers with a real database, such as Spotrac.
Generally yes. If a team wins or is in contention for an award, the best sign that they are willing to make a big offer on a player is if they win or are in contention for the award.
Typically, a trade alters a player's fit, a younger player is passed over in the rotation, or a coaching change changes the rotation — and his salary is already signed.
Needs health and efficiency in limited minutes. A good, consistent reserve can be one of the most valuable contracts per minute, but with a bad or injury-prone reserve can be one of the "most overpaid" contracts on the roster.
Check out our full salary breakdown for the 2026-27 season to see the exact salary for each player on the roster.
