Zaccharie Risacher vs Alex Sarr Salary Comparison: $6.1 Million Stands In Between 2024 NBA Draft’s Top Two Picks

NBA Draft! While millions of young athletes dream of playing in the NBA someday, only a select few accomplish that goal on this auspicious night. And this year’s draft began with a complete French takeover as Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, both French Nationals, became the top two picks in that order. Apart from realizing their childhood dream, the French duo also bagged massive contracts before even stepping foot on an NBA court. But being the number 1 pick, Risacher seemed to have a slight advantage over Sarr in terms of salary.

Going by the new CBA between the players and the league, the salary of every rookie selected in the first round of the draft is determined by the “rookie wage scale” and especially the number they are picked at. For obvious reasons, the Number 1 overall pick earns the biggest contract of the night, which for Zaccharie Risacher will be four-year $57.2 million. Meanwhile, Alex Sarr will take home a four-year $51.1 million contract, a little over six million less than his fellow French national.

As you must have already understood by the trend, the value of the rookie contract reduces as we go down the list, with the 30 pick earning a $12.8 million contract. While every first-round draft pick earns a different salary, one thing that remains constant is the length of their contracts. For the first two years, their contract remains guaranteed with the salary gradually increasing each year. The final two years of the contract come with club options, with the players becoming eligible for extensions after completing 3 seasons.

How much money do the Second-Round picks make?

While the top thirty picks add guaranteed millions to their bank accounts right after Adam Silver announces their name on Draft Night, the second-round picks are not so lucky every time. Excluded from the salary bracket of the rookie wage scale, picks 31 to 60 usually have to negotiate with the franchise that selects them and are at the team’s mercy for their salary. Because the rookies drafted in the second half lack the ‘star power’ of the first-round players, they are likely to get a contract with a much lower value.

Some players might even have to sign two-way contracts which makes them obligated to play in both the NBA and the G League while making very less money compared to their peers. But that doesn’t mean that second-round picks cannot change their fate on their next contract. While it doesn’t happen too often, some late picks have gone on to exceed everyone’s expectations and turn into superstars for their teams. A few examples include Draymond Green and Nikola Jokic, who went on to become multi-time MVPs and All-Stars. And that earned them massive contracts, far bigger than many first-round picks of their draft class.

But since the most pressure and expectations lie on the top two picks, who are Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr this year, they are making the most money out of the lot to start with. And soon when the season starts, it will be their turn to prove that they are worth the number they are getting.

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