- Knicks players shared how they would spend NBA Cup bonus money — from family gifts to charity.
- Winners earn $530,000; runners-up about $212,000; quarterfinalists just over $50,000.
- Role players and staff feel the impact: Tyler Kolek used his last Cup bonus to buy his mother a car.
- Some veterans plan to replace stolen items, donate, or simply save the money.
H2: What the NBA Cup payout means
The NBA Cup comes with meaningful, tiered bonuses that can matter a lot to role players and staff. Winners receive $530,000 each, second-place finishers roughly $212,000 and quarterfinalists a little over $50,000. Only main-roster players and the head coach receive the full winning amount; two-way players get a percentage and many team support staff — trainers, nutritionists, PR staff — do not receive payouts.
H3: Jalen Brunson on why the money matters
Knicks star Jalen Brunson said the reward motivates him not for personal gain, but because it benefits teammates and staff who don’t earn big NBA salaries. “You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for an entire team,” he explained, emphasizing that the bonus helps people who keep the team running behind the scenes.
H3: Tyler Kolek used his Cup earnings to help family
Second-round pick Tyler Kolek — an early-career guard making just over $2 million before taxes — highlighted how the NBA Cup can change lives. After the Knicks reached last season’s quarterfinals and players received roughly $50,000, Kolek used that money to buy his mother a car for Christmas. This season, he joked that “my dad might want something,” underscoring how those bonuses are often spent on family needs.
H3: Veterans’ plans — from watches to donations
Not every player needs the cash, but some have practical plans. Josh Hart, who was robbed in September and lost roughly $185,000 in watches and jewelry, said he’d use a Cup payout to start replacing what was taken. Karl-Anthony Towns plans to donate his earnings to charities in the Dominican Republic tied to youth programs. Jordan Clarkson, on a veteran-minimum deal, kept it simple: “I’m going to pay my rent, fa sho.”
H3: Broader impact and perspective
For young players and bench contributors, the Cup’s financial rewards are more than bonuses — they are supplemental income that can support families, pay for essentials, or provide a nest egg. Veterans and starters often speak about sharing or channeling the money toward causes. Mikal Bridges and Mitchell Robinson gave lighthearted or cautious answers — saving or joking about buying a teammate’s truck — while OG Anunoby said he hadn’t decided.
H4: Takeaway
The NBA Cup has sparked conversations inside locker rooms about money, gratitude and responsibility. For players like tyler kolek and many others, a relatively modest bonus by superstar standards can be life-changing for family members and people behind the scenes who make the team work.
Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6891538/2025/12/16/knicks-spurs-nba-cup-finals-winnings/
