Winning the NBA Cup tonight in Las Vegas isn't just about lifting a trophy in the middle of the regular season. For the players on the winning team, it also guarantees a significant individual bonus, an element that can vary greatly depending on each player's status, salary, and stage in their career.

In a league where income disparities are considerable, this financial reward takes on particular importance for the lowest-paid players, especially young players at the beginning of their careers or those on minimum contracts. For them, the NBA Cup can represent, in just a few games, the equivalent of several months' salary. It's a very real stake, even if it's not experienced in the same way by everyone.

In Las Vegas, before the final between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, the reactions gathered perfectly illustrate this diversity of viewpoints.

On the Knicks' side, OG Anunoby has a very clear stance. When asked about the importance of prize money, the forward explains that he doesn't play for the money. For him, the primary objective remains winning the game. He admits he hasn't thought about what he would do with the bonus, stating that he hasn't even considered it.

Conversely, Josh Hart fully embraces the financial aspect. He acknowledges that the bonus represents a huge source of motivation and explains frankly that he would spend it on himself, specifically mentioning the purchase of watches. He calls this sum "house money," a bonus he doesn't intend to save prudently. This statement takes on particular resonance given the player's recent experience as the victim of a robbery at a Manhattan hotel, where three luxury watches and jewelry, with an estimated value of around $185,000, were stolen. This incident, almost ironically, sheds light on his desire to "recoup his losses" should he win the NBA Cup.

Even in jest, money comes up in conversations among the Knicks. Mikal Bridges joked about his teammate Mitchell Robinson's massive SUV. When Robinson explained, with a smile, that it was impossible to have the same vehicle, Bridges retorted that he would "make it possible," implying that the bonus could be used to solidify this friendly rivalry.

For Spurs, Stephon Castle is taking a middle ground. The young player admits to having thought about the money, but isn't making any long-term plans. He explains that he wants to win the game first before considering what he might do with the bonus. Devin Vassell is also taking a measured approach. He says he hasn't given it much thought yet, simply imagining using the money to treat his family, especially with Christmas approaching.

Veteran Harrison Barnes offers a broader, generational perspective. He believes prize money is a powerful motivator for young players, whom he describes as particularly enthusiastic about the prospect. For more experienced players, he emphasizes the value of collective experience: playing in matches that truly matter, in a different environment, and observing how each player reacts under pressure.

While the figure of $500,000 per player is often cited, the reality is slightly different today. During the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023, this amount was set as the benchmark by the league. Since then, in accordance with the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, bonuses are indexed to Basketball Related Income (BRI), that is, the revenue generated by the NBA, and increase progressively each year.

For the current edition, the player on the champion team will receive approximately $530,933. Runners-up will receive approximately $212,373 per player, semi-finalists $106,187, and teams eliminated in the quarter-finals approximately $53,093 per player. These amounts confirm the league's commitment to progressively increasing the competition's financial appeal.

Three years after its creation, the NBA Cup has established itself as an event where sporting stakes and financial incentives coexist, each perceived differently by the players. In Las Vegas, one thing is certain: while not everyone plays for the money, none of them are unaware of what it represents.