Los Angeles Lakers Salary Cap 2023: How Much Do Players Make Per Game

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful and popular franchises in the NBA, with 17 championships and a global fan base. The Lakers have also been one of the most active and aggressive teams in the offseason, making several moves to improve their roster and compete for another title. In this article, we will take a look at the Lakers’ salary cap situation for the 2023-24 season, as well as the salaries of their coaches and players, and how much they make per game.

The Salary Cap

The salary cap is the limit that each NBA team can spend on player salaries in a given season. The salary cap for the 2023-24 season is projected to be $136,021,000, which means that the Lakers cannot exceed this amount without paying a luxury tax. The luxury tax is a penalty that teams have to pay for every dollar they spend over the cap, and it increases progressively depending on how much they exceed it. The luxury tax threshold for the 2023-24 season is projected to be $164,025,000, which means that the Lakers will have to pay a tax if their total payroll is higher than this amount.

The Lakers are currently over the salary cap and close to the luxury tax threshold, with a total payroll of $162,729,918 for the 2023-24 season. This means that they have very little flexibility to sign or trade players without increasing their tax bill. The Lakers are also “hard-capped” for the 2023-24 season, which means that they cannot exceed $172,346,000 in total payroll at any point during the season. This hard cap was triggered by using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE) to sign Gabe Vincent, a free agent point guard who agreed to a three-year deal worth $33 million.

The Coaches Salary

The Lakers are led by head coach Frank Vogel, who signed a three-year contract extension with the team in July 2021. Vogel’s annual salary is not publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be around $5.5 million, which makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA. Vogel is assisted by a staff of nine assistant coaches, who also have undisclosed salaries. However, based on the average salary of NBA assistant coaches, which is around $300,000, we can estimate that the Lakers spend around $2.7 million on their assistant coaches per year.

The Players Salaries

The Lakers have 18 players under contract for the 2023-24 season, with a total payroll of $162,729,918. The highest-paid player on the team is LeBron James, who will earn $47,607,350 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers in December 2020, which will pay him $99 million over two seasons. James also has a player option for the 2024-25 season worth $51.4 million, which he can exercise or decline at his discretion.

The second-highest-paid player on the team is Anthony Davis, who will earn $40,600,080 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Davis signed a five-year max contract with the Lakers in November 2020, which will pay him $190 million over five seasons. Davis also has a player option for the 2024-25 season worth $43.2 million, which he can exercise or decline at his discretion.

The third-highest-paid player on the team is D’Angelo Russell, who will earn $17,307,693 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Russell was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in March 2021, along with Jarred Vanderbilt and a second-round pick. Russell signed a four-year max contract with the Brooklyn Nets in July 2019, which was then matched by the Golden State Warriors as part of a sign-and-trade deal. Russell was then traded to the Timberwolves in February 2020, before being traded again to the Lakers. Russell’s contract will pay him $117 million over four seasons, and he also has an unlikely incentive of $700,000 for making an All-Star team.

The fourth-highest-paid player on the team is Rui Hachimura, who will earn $15,740,741 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Hachimura was signed by the Lakers as a free agent in August 2021, after spending his first three seasons with the Washington Wizards. Hachimura agreed to a four-year deal worth $68 million with the Lakers, which includes a partial guarantee of $51 million. Hachimura’s contract also has a team option for the 2025-26 season worth $18.3 million.

The fifth-highest-paid player on the team is Austin Reaves, who will earn $12,015,150 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Reaves was drafted by the Lakers with the 58th pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and signed a four-year deal worth $53.8 million with the team in August 2021. Reaves’ contract is fully guaranteed for the first three seasons, and has a team option for the 2024-25 season worth $14.9 million.

The rest of the players on the Lakers’ roster are:

• Gabe Vincent, who will earn $10,500,000 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Vincent signed a three-year deal worth $33 million with the Lakers in August 2021, using the NT-MLE. Vincent’s contract is fully guaranteed for all three seasons.
• Jarred Vanderbilt, who will earn $4,698,000 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Vanderbilt was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Timberwolves in March 2021, along with Russell and a second-round pick. Vanderbilt signed a four-year deal worth $13.8 million with the Timberwolves in November 2020, which includes a partial guarantee of $300,000 for the 2023-24 season. Vanderbilt’s contract also has likely and unlikely incentives of $58,000 and $145,000 respectively for playing at least 41 games and averaging at least 20 minutes per game.
• Taurean Prince, who will earn $4,516,000 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Prince signed a one-year deal worth $4.5 million with the Lakers in August 2021, using the bi-annual exception (BAE). Prince’s contract is fully guaranteed for the 2023-24 season.
• Jalen Hood-Schifino, who will earn $3,695,040 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Hood-Schifino was drafted by the Lakers with the 22nd pick in the 2023 NBA draft, and signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the team in July 2023. Hood-Schifino’s contract is fully guaranteed for the first two seasons, and has team options for the third and fourth seasons worth $4.1 million and $6.2 million respectively.
• Christian Wood, who will earn $2,709,849 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Wood signed a two-year deal worth $5.7 million with the Lakers in September 2021, using the minimum salary exception (MSE). Wood’s contract is fully guaranteed for both seasons.
• Jaxson Hayes, who will earn $2,165,000 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Hayes signed a one-year deal worth $2.2 million with the Lakers in August 2021, using the MSE. Hayes’ contract is fully guaranteed for the 2023-24 season.
• Cam Reddish, who will earn $2,165,000 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Reddish signed a one-year deal worth $2.2 million with the Lakers in August 2021, using the MSE. Reddish’s contract is fully guaranteed for the 2023-24 season.
• Max Christie, who will earn $1,719,864 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Christie was drafted by the Lakers with the 30th pick in the 2023 NBA draft, and signed a four-year minimum contract with the team in July 2023. Christie’s contract is fully guaranteed for all four seasons.
• Maxwell Lewis, who will earn $1,119,563 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Lewis was drafted by the Lakers with the 60th pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and signed a four-year minimum contract with the team in August 2021. Lewis’ contract.

is fully guaranteed for the first two seasons, and has team options for the third and fourth seasons worth $1.4 million and $1.8 million respectively.

• Jordan Nwora, who will earn $1,119,563 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Nwora was signed by the Lakers as a free agent in August 2021, using the MSE. Nwora’s contract is fully guaranteed for the 2023-24 season.
• Malik Monk, who will earn $1,119,563 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. Monk was signed by the Lakers as a free agent in August 2021, using the MSE. Monk’s contract is fully guaranteed for the 2023-24 season.

How Much Do Players Make Per Game

The NBA season consists of 82 regular-season games and up to 28 playoff games. The players’ salaries are paid in bi-weekly installments throughout the season, regardless of how many games they play or miss due to injury or suspension. However, we can calculate how much each player makes per game by dividing their annual salary by the number of games they are expected to play in a season.

For example, LeBron James will earn $47,607,350 in base salary for the 2023-24 season. If we assume that he will play all 82 regular-season games and 28 playoff games (the maximum possible), then he will make $47,607,350 / (82 + 28) = $431,885 per game. However, if he misses some games due to injury or rest, then his per-game earnings will increase accordingly.

Here is a table that shows how much each player on the Lakers’ roster will make per game for the 2023-24 season, assuming that they play all 82 regular-season games and 28 playoff games:

Player	Salary	Per Game
LeBron James	$47,607,350	$431,885
Anthony Davis	$40,600,080	$368,638
D’Angelo Russell	$17,307,693	$157,156
Rui Hachimura	$15,740,741	$142,916
Austin Reaves	$12,015,150	$109,050
Gabe Vincent	$10,500,000	$95,455
Jarred Vanderbilt	$4,698,000	$42,618
Taurean Prince	$4,516,000	$41,000
Jalen Hood-Schifino	$3,695,040	$33,546
Christian Wood	$2,709,849	$24,635
Jaxson Hayes	$2,165,000	$19,682
Cam Reddish	$2,165,000	$19,682
Max Christie	$1,719,864	$15,635
Maxwell Lewis	$1,119,563	$10,178
Jordan Nwora	$1,119,563	$10,178
Malik Monk	$1,119,563	$10,179

The total per-game earnings of the Lakers’ players for the 2023-24 season is $1,624,987.

Conclusion

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most expensive and competitive teams in the NBA, with a payroll that exceeds the salary cap and approaches the luxury tax threshold. The Lakers have a star-studded roster that features LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves, among others. The Lakers also have a highly-paid coaching staff led by Frank Vogel, who has guided the team to two championships in his tenure. The Lakers are expected to contend for another title in the 2023-24 season, but they will also have to deal with the financial implications of their spending.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q: How many championships have the Lakers won?

A: The Lakers have won 17 championships in their history, which is tied with the Boston Celtics for the most in the NBA. The Lakers won their last championship in 2020, when they defeated the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals.

Q: Who is the owner of the Lakers?

A: The Lakers are owned by the Buss family, who inherited the team from their father, Dr. Jerry Buss, who passed away in 2013. The Buss family trust owns 66% of the Lakers, while the remaining 34% is owned by minority investors. Jeanie Buss is the president and controlling owner of the Lakers.

Q: Who is the general manager of the Lakers?

A: The general manager of the Lakers is Rob Pelinka, who was hired by the team in 2017. Pelinka is a former player agent who represented Kobe Bryant and other NBA stars. Pelinka is responsible for managing the Lakers’ roster, salary cap, trades, and draft picks.

Q: Who is the best player on the Lakers?

A: The best player on the Lakers is arguably LeBron James, who is widely considered as one of the greatest players of all time. James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, and 17-time All-Star. James averaged 25.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game in the 2022-23 season.

Q: Who is the youngest player on the Lakers?

A: The youngest player on the Lakers is Jalen Hood-Schifino, who was born on June 18, 2004. Hood-Schifino is a rookie point guard who was drafted by the Lakers with the 22nd pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Hood-Schifino is 19 years old as of September 10, 2023.

Q: Who is the oldest player on the Lakers?

A: The oldest player on the Lakers is LeBron James, who was born on December 30, 1984. James is a veteran small forward who has been playing in the NBA since 2003. James is 38 years old as of September 10, 2023.

Q: How much does Frank Vogel make as a coach?

A: Frank Vogel’s annual salary as a coach is not publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be around $5.5 million, which makes him one of