NFL agent cap 3%NBA agent cap 4%MLB agent cap 5%Top federal rate 2026 37%Bonus withholding over $1M 37%Texas state tax on wages 0%Florida state tax on wages 0%California top rate 13.3%NBA escrow 10% of each check held backNIL money 1099 income, add 15.3% self-employment taxAgent fees for team salary not deductible on your federal returnNFL players file taxes in about 10 to 14 states a year

NBA | New Orleans, LA

What a New Orleans Pelicans contract really pays

Real 2026 take-home numbers for New Orleans Pelicans players, from the NBA minimum up. Federal tax, Louisiana tax, the jock tax, and the agent, all in.

At a glance

Home games taxed by
Louisiana
Top rate there
3.00%
Rank for take-home
9 of 30
NBA agent cap
4%
Road duty days (est.)
31%
Taxing places visited
23

Take-home by salary

SalaryTaxesFeesKeeps
$1,357,763min$547,706$92,888$717,169 (53%)
$5,000,000$2,130,337$275,000$2,594,663 (52%)
$15,000,000$6,477,636$775,000$7,747,364 (52%)
$40,000,000$17,349,279$2,025,000$20,625,721 (52%)

Single, living in Louisiana, max agent fee, 1% advisor fee, and $25K a year for a CPA and lawyer. Estimates for education.

Statement of earnings

$15M with the New Orleans Pelicans

One season. Lives in Louisiana. Single.

Keeps 52%
Gross pay$15,000,000
TaxFederal income tax($5,441,207)

Top federal rate is 37% on taxable income over $640,600. Reduced by a credit for tax paid to Canada.

TaxMedicare($350,700)

1.45% on every dollar, plus 0.9% on pay over $200,000. No cap.

TaxSocial Security($11,439)

6.2% on the first $184,500 only.

TaxLouisiana state tax (where you live)($310,233)

Your home state taxes all of your pay, minus a credit for tax you paid other states.

TaxJock tax (road games)($364,056)

About 31% of your duty days are on the road. Road states and cities with an income tax each take a cut. Estimated across 23 taxing places your league visits.

FeeAgent (4%)($600,000)

Taken from the gross, before taxes. For team salary it is not deductible on your federal return.

FeeManagers and advisors (1%)($150,000)

Business manager, financial advisor, and similar percentage fees.

FeeCPA and lawyer($25,000)

Multi-state returns, contract review, estate documents.

What you actually keep

$7,747,364

You keep

52%

New Orleans Pelicans pay questions

Do New Orleans Pelicans players pay state income tax?+

Yes. Louisiana taxes the pay earned on duty days in the state, even for players who live somewhere else. The top rate is 3.00%.

How much does a NBA minimum salary player on the New Orleans Pelicans take home?+

On the NBA minimum of $1,357,763, a single player living in Louisiana keeps about $717,169 after taxes and a 4% agent fee, or about 53%.

How does the New Orleans Pelicans rank for take-home pay?+

At $15,000,000 a season, the New Orleans Pelicans rank 9 of 30 NBA teams for what a player keeps, assuming he or she lives in the team's state. The top team on that list is the Dallas Mavericks.

KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA, or its players association. Team names only describe where games are played.