NBA Study Finds Pay Inequity Hurts Top Performers' Unity

Research shows disparities among core players lead to reduced coordination and fewer wins.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A new study from Washington State University found that NBA teams with pay inequities among their core players tended to have lower winning percentages, due to a drop in coordinated effort rather than just overall effort. The researchers say the findings have implications for workplace management, suggesting managers should ensure top performers are paid fairly in relation to each other to maintain team coordination.

Why it matters

The study provides insights into how pay disparities, even among a team's most important players, can undermine overall performance. While the research is based on professional basketball, the principles apply to any workplace where teamwork and coordination are crucial for success.

The details

The researchers analyzed NBA team data from 2009-10 to 2019-20 and found that greater pay disparities among a team's five most-played players correlated with lower winning percentages. This was attributed to reduced coordination, as measured by defensive rating, rather than just overall effort levels. The study suggests managers should focus on ensuring equitable pay among top performers to maintain the synchronized, cooperative effort needed for team success.

  • The study was published in the journal Human Performance in 2026.

The players

Jeremy Beus

A professor in the Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship at the Carson College of Business at Washington State University and the lead author of the new study.

Shaun Parkinson

A co-author of the study who earned his PhD at WSU and is now an assistant professor at New Mexico State University.

Jay Bates

A co-author of the study who earned his PhD at WSU and is now at Rutgers University.

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What they’re saying

“For a team, it's more than just effort; it's also coordination, which includes effort but it has to be coordinated effort. Merely working hard does not necessarily help the team. It needs to be coordinated effort.”

— Jeremy Beus, Professor (Mirage News)

“If the variability in pay is based on variability in performance, there's no reason for anyone to feel there is unfairness. If LeBron James makes more than me as a guy on the bench, I obviously expect that.”

— Jeremy Beus, Professor (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers are currently working on a study examining team performance under pressure among college football players.

The takeaway

This study highlights how pay inequities, even among a team's core players, can undermine overall performance by reducing coordination and cooperation. The findings suggest managers should prioritize fair compensation for top performers to maintain the synchronized effort needed for team success.