Taiwan Basketball League Salaries: T1 League, P.League+, Super Basketball League (2023)
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Taiwan Basketball League Salary (P.League+, T1 League, SBL) |
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Player Salary Ranges |
US$1,500 - $200,000/per month |
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Most Commonly Reported Player Salary (Imports) |
US$14,000 - $20,000/mth |
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MAX Player Salary |
US$200,000/mth (T1) |
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Lowest Reported Salary |
US$1,500/mth (SBL) |
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Sources (Players, Coaches, Media, GMs) |
Eleven (11) |
Source : Josecolorado.com, Professional Basketball Players Survey Data [2023]
taiwan basketball league salary
Taiwan’s two main professional basketball leagues - the P.League+ and the T1 League - will generally pay its best players between US$15,000 - $25,000/month.
Expanding that out for the entire season, players usually make $100k - $150k/per season.
The maximum amount ever recorded in Taiwan was Dwight Howard’s historic US$1 million/per year.
Meanwhile, the minimum - found in the Super Basketball League (3rd Div.) is much lower - at around US$1,500/per month!
Overall, however, Taiwan is an ELITE paying country according to our overseas basketball salaries study that examined 100+ countries worldwide.
But because Taiwan has three separate leagues - all of which are non-affiliated to one another - salaries can be very different.
So let’s break down each together.
taiwan basketball league
In Taiwan, there are three different professional basketball leagues - the P.League+, T1 League and the Super Basketball League (SBL). Of the three, the P.League+ is generally considered the best.
Interestingly enough:
Both the P.League+ (est.2020) and T1 Basketball League (est.2021) are the two youngest competitions.
Meanwhile:
The SBL has been around since 2003 - making it the oldest.
But today, the SBL has devolved to become the least profitable and lowest-profile competition of the three (more on that later).
Let’s start with the T1 League since it’s exploding with popularity currently.
T1 League basketball Salary
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Taiwan Basketball League Salary: T1 League (Chart) |
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Player Salary Ranges |
US$10,000 - $200,000/per month |
|
Most Commonly Reported Player Salary (Imports) |
US$12,000 - $20,000/mth |
|
MAX Player Salary |
US$200,000/mth |
|
Lowest Reported Salary |
US$10,000/mth |
Source : Josecolorado.com, Professional Basketball Players Survey Data [2023]
The average T1 League Basketball salary is between US$12,000 - $20,000/per month.
Per league rules, salaries can’t exceed $20,000/per month. But exceptions have been made in the past when the T1 deemed it in the best interest of the league.
Here’s the thing:
The T1 League is still quite young.
After all:
It was only founded in 2021 so it’s pretty obvious the league is still trying to find itself.
That becomes especially true when you consider it is lagging behind the P.League+ in both major player signings (NBA players) and social media engagement.
So this rule - of players going above US$20,000/per month - has rarely been used thus far.
But it recently did come into effect through one MONSTER T1 deal.
Dwight Howard Taiwan contract
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Dwight Howard Taiwan Contract |
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Monthly Amount |
Total Value |
Team (Date) |
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US$200k/per month |
US$1,000,000 |
Taoyuan Leopards (Nov.8, 2023) |
Per the Taiwan News, Dwight Howard’s contract in Taiwan is worth over US $1 Million, making him the highest-paid player in the history of Taiwanese professional basketball (P.League+ & T1 League included).
To get to that number, the T1 League had to use its special exemption clause.
As mentioned:
Per the T1 League rulebook, a typical foreigner salary can’t exceed US$20,000/per month.
However:
Bret Su - the GM of Howard’s team, the Taoyuan Leopards - confirmed his centre would be making over US$200,000 per month.
So how’s that possible?
Per T1 rules, teams are allowed to go over the monthly salary cap limit for certain players.
But to do that a team must go through a Three-Step Process:
Notify the league of the proposed contract
Demonstrate the signing would benefit T1, overall, as a league
Get the contract approved by T1’s board of directors
In other words:
If there is a player who is good enough - and who wants more than the T1 salary cap can offer - then exceptions can be made.
But to do that, the league must think that player will elevate the overall popularity, level of play, revenue, sponsorship opportunities etc. for the league.
Apparently:
Howard checked off all those boxes.
Thus:
SuperMan signed on Nov.8, 2022 with the (then) last-placed Leopards.
Players - and certain celebrities - being given preferential treatment in overseas basketball is nothing new.
In fact:
Rap legend J.Cole signing in BAL (Basketball Africa League) - as well as the CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League) - is a great example of just that.
Cole was able to play in both high-level leagues despite having never played college basketball, let alone professionally.
Regardless:
It’s tough to argue with the results when it comes to the “Howard-Effect”:
60,000 tickets sold out within 10 minutes of Howard’s signing
Special court side tickets created for Howard’s home games
Social media growth skyrocketed
But it gets better:
If you’re not D-12 - don’t worry.
The T1 League takes care of its foreigners.
For instance:
Although league rules state players can’t usually earn over $20,000/per month, hoopers often report making much more in reality.
According to players and agents, here are a few work-arounds:
Signing bonuses
Performance bonuses
Additional sponsorship money
Additional marketing money
Imagine that:
Taiwan is even more lucrative in reality than it is on paper.
That’s an amazing thought because it already is a high-paying country.
And we haven’t even got to the best league in the country yet - the P.League+!
p.league+ basketball salary
Taiwan’s P.League+ basketball salaries generally sit at US$15,000 - $20,000/per month. Although when including bonuses, some players can reach up to $25k - $30k/per month when divided over the course of the season.
Despite being founded in 2020, the P.League+ has been able to attract a decent level of NBA talent over the years.
Some of that must be attributed to its founder - Blackie Chen.
Simply put:
Chen is a star in Taiwan.
As a former professional player, actor, television host and much more - Chen commands attention wherever he goes.
Some of that, surely, has translated into his league.
On the basketball side of things:
One great perk of the P.League+ is its use of different player categories.
You see:
Beyond Taiwanese nationals, the P.League+ uses two different categories:
Overseas Chinese (dual citizens)
Non-Republic of China nationals who attended Taiwanese universities
We’ll explore both options later.
But for now just know that’s how players such as Jeremy’s Lin brother, Joseph Lin, was able to get into the market and thrive with the New Tapei Kings.
Beyond Joseph Lin, there’s been a number of other examples, including:
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P.League+: Notable American-Taiwanese Players |
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Name |
Team |
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Joseph Lin |
New Taipei Kings |
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Will Artino |
Hsinchu Lioneers |
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Kenny Chien |
Taishin Dreamers |
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Douglas Creighton |
Taishin Dreamers |
Taiwan p league vs t1 [comparison chart]
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Taiwan Basketball Leagues: T1 League vs. P.League+ |
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Item |
T1 League |
P.League+ |
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Year Founded |
2021 |
2020 |
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No. of teams |
6 |
6 |
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Average monthly salary |
$12 - $20k/mth |
$15K - $20K/mth |
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Most famous signing |
Dwight Howard (2023) |
Jeremy Lin (2023) |
In recent years Taiwan’s professional basketball scene has become a two-league race with fans and players gravitating towards the P.League+ and T1 League as both are able to attract NBA talent nowadays.
Many positives have emerged from that, including:
Increased player salaries in Taiwan
Overall basketball growth and popularity in Taiwan
Bigger player signings (former NBAers)
More sponsorship opportunities
…etc.
But all of that begs an interesting question:
Moving forward, what will FIBA do with Taiwan?
For instance, it would seem logical to have the rival leagues work together - and not against each other.
After all:
That way players and fans could have the Ultimate Taiwanese Professional Basketball League Experience.
As it currently stands, there is no crossover between the P.League+ and T1 League.
So that means Dwight Howard (T1 League player) won’t ever actually play someone like Jeremy Lin (P.League+) since they’re in different leagues.
Talk about a letdown for the fans…
I look at Taiwan in the same light as Japan from a few years ago.
There, previously there was also two rival leagues:
The National Basketball League (NBL)
bj league
But in 2016, FIBA ordered a merger between the two competitions.
That created the B.League.
Since then, Japan has become one of the most profitable markets in all of Asia.
In my opinion, it would be difficult to imagine a scenario in the future where FIBA allows Taiwan to have two rival leagues competing against one another.
In Taiwan there simply is too much at stake (e.g. money, sponsors, high-profile players).
Having two rival leagues trying to outdo the other seems illogical - especially given how well Japan turned out.
JOSE COLORADO’S SOCIALS (AUTHOR)
In other words:
If you are a player who has Taiwanese descent/citizenship, then explore this passport to the fullest.
Taiwan is a Money Market!
And if you are an import (American) playing here, then you’re even more lucky.
You’ll be making some of the best money in the entire league.
Finally, as mentioned earlier:
The P.League+ allows dual citizens - known as Overseas Chinese.
Alongside that:
They also allow special spots for players who attended a Taiwanese University.
Yes - you read that right.
You can be:
American
Attend a Taiwanese university
And you can increase your odds of landing on a PLG team!
This is HUGE.
And teams have already done this.
But there are restrictions in place:
They are:
2 Overseas Chinese (total)
OR
1 Overseas Chinese + 1 Taiwan University International student (total)
Essentially:
This gives Asian-born players - and other nationalities - a huge boost as they won’t have to only compete with foreigners to get onto a P.League+ roster.
Talk about a hack!
NBA players in Taiwan [chart]
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Notable NBA Players in Taiwan |
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Name |
Leagues Played In |
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Dwight Howard |
T1 League |
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Jeremy Lin |
P.League+ |
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Anthony Bennett |
P.League+ |
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Sim Bhullar |
P.League+,T1,SBL |
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Hasheem Thabeet |
P.League |
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Julian Wright |
P.League, T1 |
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Diamond Stone |
T1 League |
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Byron Mullens |
P.League+ |
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Austin Daye |
P.League+ |
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Terrence Jones |
P.League+ |
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Aaron Harrison |
P.League+ |
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Walter Sharpe |
SBL |
Beyond Dwight Howard, Taiwan’s pro basketball leagues have had many other former NBA players play in them including Jeremy Lin, Anthony Bennett, Sim Bhullar and more.
To date:
The majority of former NBA players opt for the P.League+ instead of T1.
Sim Bhullar - a former Sacramento King - is one of the few former NBA players who has played in all three of Taiwan’s professional leagues.
Of course:
Amongst all the players, Howard is the biggest draw. After all, he has the best resume.
But recently a not-so-distant second has emerged…
Jeremy lin taiwan
Jeremy Lin - whose parents are Taiwanese - made his debut in Taiwan’s P.League+ in 2023 with the Kaohsiung Steelers.
Lin - who holds a Taiwanese passport - must be considered the highest-profile national to ever play in Taiwan’s pro basketball leagues.
On that note:
Lin’s opening game on Feb.12 set multiple P.League+ viewership records.
Yes, Lin is American-born.
But he does have his Taiwanese-citizenship via his parents.
Thus:
Under FIBA regulations, he doesn’t actually count as a foreigner with the Kaohsiung Steelers due to his Taiwanese citizenship.
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Imagine that:
Bringing in Jeremy Lin - a 9-year NBA veteran - and he counts as a national.
What a luxury!
Super Basketball League salary
The Super Basketball League (SBL) is Taiwan’s longest-running professional league but in recent years its popularity has decreased substantially.
Nowadays, players can expect to make US$1,500 - $3,000/per month. Max salary is roughly US$12,000/per month.
At the time of this writing, there are only 4 SBL teams left.
So it may seem like a dying league.
But there are still many positives to starting out in the SBL.
For starters:
The SBL’s average salary (US$1,500 - $3,000/per month) isn’t actually that bad when comparing it to other overseas leagues in the world.
It just seems particularly low in this case because Taiwan’s other two competitions - the P.League+ and T1 League - have such high salaries.
Secondly:
SBL’s MAX contract (US$12K/per month) exceeds what many other similarly paying leagues could top out at.
Thirdly:
The SBL could serve as a great way to get into the Taiwanese - and Asian - market.
This way you could:
Play your way into the bigger leagues
Network within Taiwan’s basketball scene (coaches, players, agents)
Be ready and on-standby if an opportunity opened up
Already have a flight covered if you get called up to a bigger league (one less expense for the club)
Finally:
Taiwan is a very populated location (approx. 24 million at time of writing) where sponsorship opportunities (branding) could be available to players.
Remember:
Modern day basketball has completely changed.
Nowadays, players are able to market, brand and sell themselves more than ever.
All of this serves to increase your value and can help offset a potentially lower-paying job.
In fact:
To date, I’ve taught this principle to countless players through my personal consultations.
So make sure to book one if that’s something you’re interested in.
CONCLUSION
So there you have it.
One of the most interesting and exciting markets in Asian basketball - Taiwan.
With multiple recent big-time signings, it will interesting to see where Taiwan sits within the professional basketball market in a few years’ time.
Summary:
Taiwan’s overseas basketball leagues offer ELITE-tier basketball salaries
P.League+ and T1 League offer the best salaries at roughly US $12K - $20K/mth
P.League+ is considered the leader of Taiwan’s pro basketball leagues
The Super Basketball League (SBL) serves as a good entry league to Taiwan/Asia
Taiwan looks like a growth market of the future for overseas basketball players
Were you surprised at how much basketball players make in Taiwan?
Comment below!
Jose Colorado is a 6-year professional basketball player helping others achieve their dreams of pro basketball with a proven and tested approach to overseas basketball.
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