Comparison · NBA vs NHL
NBA vs NHL: what the same contract pays after tax
On a $10,000,000 contract, a mid-market NBA player keeps about $4,065,000 and a mid-market NHL player keeps about $4,700,000. NHL pays $635,000 more for the identical headline number.
The same money in six markets
| League | Club | Market | Keeps | Net on $10M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | Dallas Mavericks | Texas | 45.1% | $4,515,000 |
| NBA | Utah Jazz | Utah | 40.6% | $4,065,000 |
| NBA | Sacramento Kings | California | 31.8% | $3,185,000 |
| NHL | Dallas Stars | Texas | 54.1% | $5,415,000 |
| NHL | Edmonton Oilers | Alberta | 47% | $4,700,000 |
| NHL | San Jose Sharks | California | 40.8% | $4,085,000 |
NBA runs from 31.8% to 45.1% depending on the market; NHL runs from 40.8% to 54.1%. The spread inside a league is usually larger than the gap between leagues.
What the league takes before tax
| Deduction | NBA | NHL |
|---|---|---|
| Agent commission cap | 4% | 5% |
| Escrow withheld | 10% | — |
| Agent fee on $10M | $400,000 | $500,000 |
| Escrow on $10M | $1,000,000 | — |
These come off the top, before any income tax. NBA withholds 10% in escrow, which is deferred rather than lost. The agent commission gap alone is worth $100,000 on this contract.
Why the difference exists
Tax geography does most of the work. NBA's clubs sit in Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona and 19 more, while NHL's sit in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Washington and 20 more. Where a club plays decides the state or national rate, and that rate is charged on the full salary rather than only the portion earned at home.
That is why the best market in the worse-paying league can still beat the average of the better-paying one — a point worth checking before treating either league as uniformly better.