The gap between the major North American sports leagues has never been more evident than when comparing the rookie salaries of their No. 1 overall draft picks in 2025. While all of them are entering their respective leagues with immense hype, the earning disparity is staggering, especially between the NBA and NHL.
Let’s break it down. NHL top pick Matthew Schaefer will make just over $975,000 in his rookie season with the New York Islanders.
Compare that to NBA No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who is set to earn a whopping $13.8 million in his rookie year with the Dallas Mavericks. That’s over 14 times more than what Schaefer will earn in the same timeframe.
And it doesn’t stop there. NFL top pick Cam Ward is expected to earn $8.84 million, while MLB’s No. 1 pick, Oregon State star Travis Bazzana, will sign for $11.08 million.
These figures pale next to Flagg’s projected long-term NBA deal and, more importantly, they highlight how basketball offers the fastest and most lucrative path to generational wealth.
Flagg’s rookie contract is reportedly worth $62.7 million over four years, with rising scale and incentives tied to All-NBA performance and minutes played.
If he reaches supermax eligibility by Year 6, which includes making All-NBA teams or winning MVP, his career earnings could reach nearly a billion by 2038 when endorsements are factored in. That number is nearly unfathomable in hockey, where even the best players rarely crack $100 million across their careers.
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 NBA rookie contracts from the 2025 Draft:
1. Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) – $62.7 million
2. Dylan Harper (Spurs) – $56.1 million
3. VJ Edgecombe (76ers) – $50.4 million
4. Kon Knueppel (Hornets) – $45.5 million
5. Ace Bailey (Jazz) – $41.2 million
6. Tre Johnson (Wizards) – $37.4 million
7. Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans) – $34.2 million
8. Egor Demin (Nets) – $31.3 million
9. Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors) – $28.8 million
10. Khaman Maluach (Suns) – $27.4 million
In contrast, the NHL entry-level contracts are capped at around $950,000 per year for top picks, not including modest performance bonuses. Even if Schaefer becomes a superstar, he won’t touch eight figures annually until after his entry-level deal expires.
The reason for this enormous gulf lies in revenue. The NBA generates far more global revenue, has lucrative TV contracts, sponsorship deals, and a wider reach.
Players are the face of the league in basketball in a way they simply aren’t in hockey or baseball. This star-centric model rewards rookies immediately, especially lottery picks with marketability.
While every sport brings a different kind of prestige, there’s no denying this: if you’re a top prospect with multi-sport potential, the numbers don’t lie. The NBA is the fastest road to fortune.
