Imagine growing up in a household where basketball is the king. This is what Cameron Johnson’s childhood looks like. Both his parents who were hoopers themselves, pushed him to pursue his dreams. And today, he is a very successful young NBA star. But, how much is the young sensation paid? Let’s check out.
What is Cameron Johnson’s salary with the Brooklyn Nets?
On February 9, 2023, Cameron Johnson’s career took a big turn when the Phoenix Suns traded him to the Brooklyn Nets. This move marked a fresh chapter for Johnson, and it’s still going strong. While his time with the Nets had its ups and downs, on July 6, 2023, he signed a four-year, $108 million contract with the team. Let’s break down his contract by season.
For the 2023-24 season, Johnson’s cap hit is $25.68 million, with a fully guaranteed base salary of $24.46 million. This shows the Nets’ confidence in his contributions. The contract includes incentives, with $1.22 million in likely incentives and $3.67 million in unlikely incentives, giving Johnson opportunities to boost his earnings. The cap hit fluctuates over the deal, reflecting both his growth and the team’s salary cap strategy.
In the 2024-25 season, Johnson’s cap hit decreases to $22.5 million, an 8% drop, offering Brooklyn some salary flexibility while keeping him a key part of the team. His base salary remains $22.5 million, ensuring he’s still one of the Nets’ top earners.
In the 2025-26 season, Johnson’s salary sees another decrease, with a cap hit of $20.54 million. However, this drop doesn’t diminish his value to the team. His base salary remains at $20.54 million, with no additional likely incentives. This steady decrease allows Brooklyn to manage its future cap space, but it also shows the trust they’ve placed in Johnson long-term.
The final season of Johnson’s contract, that is 2026-27, will see his salary return to $22.5 million, with an 8% increase in his cap hit. This increase likely reflects the expectation that he will continue to develop as a cornerstone player for the Nets. His incentives will continue to play a role, with $4.5 million in likely incentives, ensuring his performance is rewarded.
By the end of this contract, Johnson stands to earn a total of $91.22 million, with $90 million guaranteed. He also has the potential to earn an additional $16.78 million through incentives. This contract positions him as one of Brooklyn’s key players. However, with that, let’s look into what his contract with the Suns looked like.
What is Cameron Johnson’s contract with the Phoenix Suns?
Cameron Johnson’s path to the NBA began with the Western Conference. But, it has a little story. Now this story is not something new in the NBA, as we have seen this some decades. The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him as their 11th pick in 2019 but quickly traded him to the Suns in exchange for Jarrett Culver. Phoenix saw the potential in the sharp-shooting forward, became his chance to make his dream come true. However, on July 6, 2019, they signed him to a 4-year, $18.59 million deal.
Nov 11, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) warms up before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
In his first season, Johnson’s cap hit was $4.03 million. But, as a rookie, he didn’t make an immediate splash but showed glimpses of his future potential. The following year, his salary rose slightly to $4.24 million, reflecting the 5% increase for a developing player.
Then came the 2021-22 season, where Johnson’s potential truly began to be seen. The team exercised their option, locking him in for another year at $4.44 million. With this one thing is clear, the Suns saw him as a key piece to their puzzle, and he contributed with timely shooting and reliable defense. His role grew, and so did his impact.
The biggest jump came in the 2022-23 season when Johnson’s cap hit increased to $5.89 million—an impressive 36% bump. This was a reflection of his growing influence on the team, especially as Phoenix made deep playoff runs.
By the end of his four-year contract with the Suns, Johnson had earned $18.59 million. While not as flashy as star contracts, it provided a solid foundation for his career, with the fully guaranteed deal reflecting Phoenix’s trust in his steady growth. However, as with many NBA stories, his time with the Suns was just the beginning. In February 2023, Johnson was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, marking the next chapter of his journey. Though it was a bittersweet farewell to the team that helped shape his early career, we all know what came next.
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