What is supermax?
Supermax is the informal name for the designated veteran extension, which lets a qualifying NBA star sign for up to 35% of the cap before reaching 10 years of service. At the 2026-27 cap, that is $57,736,350 in the first year.
How it works
Normally only a player with 10 or more years of service can start at 35%. The designated veteran rule lets a team pay that to a player with seven or eight years of service who meets performance criteria.
The criteria are awards: for example, All-NBA selection in the most recent season or in two of the three prior seasons, or winning Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year. The player generally must still be with the team that drafted him or that acquired him during his rookie contract.
The rule exists to help teams keep homegrown stars. A different team cannot offer the supermax, which is where its leverage comes from.
The numbers
35% of 2026-27 cap
Without the criteria
Before raises
An example
A seventh-year guard named All-NBA last season becomes eligible. His team can offer a first-year salary of $57,736,350 instead of $49,488,300, an amount no other team can match.
What it means for a player
Supermax eligibility can hinge on one award vote. A player near the line should understand exactly which honor unlocks it and what happens to the offer if he misses.
Sources
Reviewed September 26, 2026 by McKinley Malbrough III, J.D., MS-HRM, certified WNBA player agent and former certified NBA agent. Figures are refreshed each July. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.