SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama headlined a short list of 2023 draftees who locked in long-term money before the NBA's rookie-scale extension deadline passed at 6 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
Only seven players from that first round agreed to new deals, the smallest group since 2018, when five did. Every year from 2019 through 2025 saw at least nine.
The Spurs star, the top pick in that draft, signed a five-year maximum contract projected at roughly $255 million that carries a player option in the final season. He passed on language that could have pushed it toward $306 million had he made an All-NBA team next season. He was also the only player in the group to get a max, making this the first year since 2016 without at least two maximum rookie extensions.
Charlotte's Brandon Miller, the No. 2 pick, and Houston's Amen Thompson, taken fourth, were close behind at about $208 million each over five years. His twin brother, Ausar Thompson, picked fifth by Detroit, and Utah guard Keyonte George, the 16th pick, each landed around $155 million.
Oklahoma City's Cason Wallace, chosen 10th, and Golden State's Brandin Podziemski, picked 19th, rounded out the class at roughly $135 million and $110 million.
All seven deals run five years and are fully guaranteed. Miller and Thompson might have pushed for max money in past years, and their lower totals hint that teams are bargaining harder as the luxury tax aprons limit roster building. The Jazz and Thunder still built incentives into their deals, a feature most clubs have dropped because it counts against apron math.
Eligible players who did not sign can become restricted free agents next summer.
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