LAS VEGAS (AP) — When the Milwaukee Bucks clinched their spot in the NBA Cup championship game, plenty of the team’s younger and lesser-paid players were exuberant in the locker room.
Yes, they have a chance at a trophy. Those are nice.
They’ll also have a chance at their biggest payday of their careers. The NBA Cup final — the Bucks vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder — is Tuesday in Las Vegas, with an additional $308,983 in prize money going to each of the players on the winning team.
For the league’s superstars, that amount might represent a game’s pay — or maybe even a half-game’s pay. For much of the league, it’s still a colossal sum.
“I try not to think about the money,” said Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is making about $48.8 million this season. “No, it’s not accurate what I’m saying. I think about the money — but I think about the money when we talk about the young guys.”