The Golden State Warriors have been one of the most dominant franchises in recent memory. Players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are the bedrock of the Warriors’ success. In the highly competitive and grueling NBA, injuries are an inevitable part of the equation. And the Warriors have experienced their fair share of injuries that have disrupted their seasons.

In order to tackle this issue, NBA teams utilize insurance to provide coverage for the health and well-being of their athletes. But according to NBA rules, a team is only required to insure their five highest-paid players.

Insurance rules in the NBA

The Warriors have the highest payroll in the NBA right now. Owner Joe Lacob paid approximately $276 million in luxury tax and a significant chunk of his money goes into insuring his best player. According to NBA rules, the league has mandated teams to insure their five highest players as an inherent component of their compensation package.

On the face of it, the rule might sound reasonable, as the highest-paid players are the best players on the team and hence play for the most minutes. This may lead to higher chances of incurring injuries.

But 5 players don’t make up a team. In the NBA, each team is typically required to maintain a roster of 15 players, with a scope of adding two more players on a two-way contract. So, what about the other ten to twelve players on the roster?

Other players on the team are left to pay for themselves. As insurance would only cost 4-7% of their humongous NBA salaries. Because of a significantly high risk of injury, the players have to look for a specialty insurance provider. But on the positive side, players’ overall health risks tend to be minimal due to their exceptional levels of physical fitness.

Outlier Specialty Athlete Disability Insurance

Outlier Specialty Athlete Disability Insurance is a specialized insurance product designed to provide financial protection to professional basketball players. They tailor this insurance to cover situations where athletes suffer injuries or disabilities, preventing them from playing and earning their contracted salaries.

Read More: As LeBron James and Stephen Curry Potentially Benefiting From NBA’s New Rule, 3X All-Star Explains Its Downside: “It Hurts in Theory”

Due to the constant limelight on NBA stars and their private life, some NBA players even have to be insured against kidnapping, ransom, and extortion. Some players known for their larger-than-life persona need to be insured against career-ending incidents like car accidents. But the overarching goal is to ensure that players receive the necessary medical care and financial support. While teams can manage the uncertainties associated with injuries to key players.

Watch this Story: Not Michael Jordan but Kobe Bryant Lit a Fire Inside Dwyane Wade to Redefine LeBron James and Own Legacy