NBA 2025-2026: salary cap set at $154.6 million

The NBA officially announced Monday the salary cap amounts and various financial thresholds for the 2025-2026 season. The salary cap is set at $154.647 million, representing a 10% increase from the previous season, which corresponds to the maximum authorized increase.

This announcement comes at a crucial time, just before the opening of free agency. The luxury tax threshold is set at $187.895 million for the upcoming campaign, giving franchises their definitive benchmarks to plan their moves.

Restrictive thresholds that regulate franchise spending

The new financial rules include several levels of spending regulation. The team minimum salary is set at $139.182 million, ensuring a spending floor for all league franchises.

The two apron levels, recently introduced restrictive mechanisms, are also defined. The first apron rises to $195.945 million, while the second apron reaches $207.824 million. These thresholds impose additional constraints on teams that exceed them, limiting their movement possibilities in the market.

Mid-level exceptions have also been specified: $14.104 million for non-taxed teams, $5.685 million for those subject to the luxury tax, and $8.781 million for franchises with space under the salary cap.

These amounts take effect Tuesday, but the moratorium period on most signings won’t be lifted until Sunday at noon. Franchises can now finalize their strategies ahead of the official opening of free agency.

For the following season, if the projected 7% increase holds true, the salary cap should approach $165.5 million, an amount that won’t be officially confirmed until June 2026.