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NewsAugust 27, 2026·1 min read
NBA's Most Expensive Benches: $284.2M Wasted Last Season
The NBA offseason is in full swing, and teams are looking to optimize their rosters ahead of the new season. A recent study by Casino Guru highlights which teams had the most expensive benches last season, revealing that a staggering $284.2m in salary was tied up in players earning $5m+ who were not part of their regular rotations.
The New Orleans Pelicans topped the list with the most expensive bench, amounting to $39.85m, which is 19.2% of their total payroll. The Charlotte Hornets followed with $29.53m, and the Orlando Magic with $28.86m. The Golden State Warriors had $25.80m in bench salary, with the most significant portion, $20.11m, attributed to coaching decisions.
Jordan Poole was identified as the most expensive individual benched player, with a salary of $31.85m. The Denver Nuggets, despite their 54 wins, left $18.57m outside the rotation due to coaching decisions. Notably, nine teams, including Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New York, and Cleveland, recorded $0 qualifying non-injury bench salary.
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