CJ McCollum Claims Almost A Third Of NBA Living Paycheck To Paycheck

According to Forbes.com writer Zack Friedman, 78% of American workers are living paycheck to paycheck. To think that the people who make more than most of America’s wealthiest citizens are also living paycheck to paycheck is outrageous, but according to Portland Trailblazers’ star guard CJ McCollum, that appears to be the case.

In an interview with former NBA guard Jay Williams, McCollum told him that he can estimate that 150 NBA players are probably living paycheck to paycheck. In the NBA, there can only be 15 players maximum for every team, which means there could only be 450 roster spots total. If 150 players out of 450 are living paycheck to paycheck, that would mean that a third of the league is probably not as wealthy as you think.

Along with other sports, the NBA has taken a huge hit for the season, and so has their players due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Without playing a full season, the league has been forced to cut their players’ salaries back significantly. Fortunately, the regular season was approaching near the end anyways as teams were starting to clinch playoff berths. However, according to McCollum, the NBA is on pace to lose about “23.5 percent of income this season.”