From college standout to reliable NBA big man, Thomas Bryant built his career on persistence and production. The Rochester, N.Y. native first impressed Indiana fans in college and now anchors the lane for the Indiana Pacers.
Off the court, however, Bryant is quietly building a fortune. Let’s break down his current contract, compare it to his peers, and unpack just how much wealth this eight-year NBA veteran has accumulated.
Unpacking Pacers Center Thomas Bryant’s Contract, Salary, Career Earnings
Last summer, Bryant locked in a one-year deal worth $2,800,834, fully guaranteed, with the Miami Heat before being dealt to the Pacers in mid-December 2024. His current cap hit sits around $2,087,519, according to HoopsHype and Spotrac figures.
While modest by NBA standards, this contract provides solid value. He was ranked 340th in total NBA salary for the 2024-25 season, as per HoopsHype. He also ranked 47th among NBA centers in salary and 11th on a Pacers roster led by top earners Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner.
we have acquired center Thomas Bryant from the Miami Heat in exchange for the right to swap second-round picks in the 2031 NBA Draft.
he is expected to be available for today’s game against the Pelicans.
more info: https://t.co/c33pOrFDj4 pic.twitter.com/T8xayWBw4m
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 15, 2024
Bryant’s first major payday arrived in June 2019, when he secured a three-year, $25 million extension with the Washington Wizards. That deal underscored his reliability as a starting center capable of averaging double-digit scoring and sturdy rebounding. Of course, it also provided financial security and recognized his leap from bench contributor to key rotation piece.
Meanwhile, Bryant’s earnings journey captures his NBA evolution — from role player to reliable veteran:
2017–18 Lakers (rookie scale): $815,615
2018–19 Wizards: $1,378,242
2019–20 Wizards*: $8,000,000 (1st year of 3–year extension)
2020–21 Wizards: $8,333,333
2021–22 Wizards: $8,666,667
2022–23 Lakers/Nuggets: $2.27M combined
2023–24 Miami: $2,528,233
2024–25 Miami/Pacers: $2,800,834
Bryant’s cumulative fortune from NBA salaries totals $34.2 million in real cash, excluding inflation adjustments. Spotrac places him just north of $34.15 million in career earnings. Despite missing out on some of the bigger contracts in later years, earning over $34M still places him solidly in the mid-tier of NBA earners.
Within the broader NBA landscape, elite centers command eye-popping figures. Turner, for instance, has earned nearly $19.93 million in the 2024-25 season. Yet, Bryant’s team-friendly contract provides the Pacers with critical flexibility. Bryant’s current salary represents barely one-seventh of Turner’s payday, allowing the Pacers to allocate resources across their championship-aspiring core.
Meanwhile, Bryant averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, with 51.5% shooting in the 56 games he played for Indiana this season.
Thomas Bryant appeared to get away with a goaltend on this block on Kenrich Williams 👀
Thoughts? 🤔
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 9, 2025
On June 8, 2025, during Game 2 of the Indiana-Oklahoma City Thunder series, the NBA champion played 12 minutes off the bench and scored a single point. The Pacers lost to the Thunder 123-107 with a 16-point deficit.
At 27, he remains in his professional prime. Peers with similar profiles typically move into multi-year, multi-million-dollar roles. If he maintains or improves his efficiency, especially from three-point range (32% in 2024-2025), he could parlay this season into a richer contract in 2025-26 free agency.
Game 3 of the NBA Finals is set for June 11 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as the Pacers aim to take advantage of what is likely to be a raucous crowd.