The NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament is currently underway, and commissioner Adam Silver and the league office have come up with innovative ideas to promote competition for the occasion. While the original proposal called for the winning team’s players to receive $500,000 in stipends, the NBA subsequently added the winning team’s head coach to receive a $500,000 bonus, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Seventy-five percent of the winning coach’s total compensation will go to the assistant coaches. According to sources, the reward fund for head coaches and players will now be distributed according to their advancement to become the tournament’s runners-up ($200,000), semifinalists ($100,000), and quarterfinalists ($50,000).” This clearly indicates that Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has every reason to work hard and lead his team to victory throughout the tournament.
Woj added that this development followed a meeting between the league’s coaching leadership and commissioner Adam Silver to discuss ways to reward coaches with bonuses. A $500,000 incentive is a tiny portion of most players’ earnings, while coaches usually make far less money.
For instance, Darvin Ham’s contract reportedly pays between $3 million and $5 million a year. Assuming that amount is $4 million, he would receive a substantial $500,000 bonus, or a 12.5% increase in his compensation. Increasing the incentives for all parties participating in the tournament mix is a fantastic way to motivate players and coaches to provide their best effort.
