NBA Rookie Salary 2021: Here's How Much Edwards, Wiseman And Ball Are Earning

The NBA draft 2020 was held at an extraordinary time, but its top three draft picks are enjoying the same perks as their predecessors, including getting paid millions.

Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball dominated the 2020 NBA draft held in November last year. Edwards, who was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the no. 1 overall pick, is estimated to receive a salary of $8.1 million during his first year, according to Spotrac’s NBA 2020-21 Rookie Scale.

On the other hand, Wiseman and Ball are expected to receive $7.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively, for their debut year.

For the second year, Edwards is predicted to get a slightly higher amount at $8.5 million, while it could be $7.6 million for Wiseman and $6.9 million for Ball. The trio of 19-year-olds is expected to sign a four-year deal that will see them receiving up to $40 million each.

The journey was long for all three up-and-coming NBA stars. Though a top prospect since his high school years, Edwards opted to reclassify to the class of 2019 during what could have been his junior year at Holy Spirit Preparatory School, according to NBA.com. During the draft, Timberwolves picked the no. 1 overall pick to join their roster.

The University of Georgia alumnus was described by CBS Sports as a "natural shooting guard" due to his 6-foot, 5-inch height, 6-foot, 9-inch wingspan and "elite athletic tools." It added that though Edwards has yet to achieve elite shooter status, he is a "sophisticated individual shot-creator" for the team.

It was also a wild night for Wiseman. Ranked by ESPN as the no. 1 high school player in the Class of 2019, he played collegiate basketball for a short time and was forced to retire due to NCAA eligibility issues, according to Sports Illustrated.

Wiseman was seen as a top forward-center prospect for the 2020 NBA draft. A scout commented that he had the body and athleticism that no one else possessed in the league. The Golden State Warriors welcomed him at a time when they faced the need to upgrade their frontcourt.

Being no. 3 is not a loss for Ball. SB Nation and other outlets had predicted that the California-native would be the no. 1 pick for the 2020 draft. And it is no wonder that many called in favor of Ball.

The 6-foot-7 point guard gained national attention when he played for the undefeated state champion Chino Hills. CBS Sports named three reasons the world should watch out for Ball — his elite passing skill, his advanced handle and his physical profile.

Having shown great potential and achievement even before their NBA debut, these three are sure to be among those who will dominate the league in the coming years.