From Miami to Memphis — Carlos Boozer's son lands in the best possible tax environment in the NBA. Tennessee has zero state income tax. Here's what that means for his bottom line.
$13.3M Year 1 · $0 TN State Tax · Best Tax Situation in the DraftCameron Boozer — Naismith Award winner, son of NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, and Miami product — was selected #3 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Draft. And from a pure tax perspective, he landed in the best possible destination in professional basketball.
Tennessee has absolutely zero state income tax. No personal income tax, no city income tax in Memphis, no county income tax. The Hall Income Tax (which covered investment income) was fully repealed in 2021. Boozer pays only federal taxes — meaning he keeps dramatically more of his contract than any peer playing in California, New York, DC, or even Utah.
At Duke, Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 55.6% from the field — a dominant freshman season that won him the Naismith Award and the #3 pick. Now he gets to keep more of the money he earns than almost anyone else in his draft class.
Without any state income tax, Boozer's entire tax burden comes from the federal government. Here's his Year 1 breakdown.
| NBA salary (Year 1) | $13,300,000 |
| Federal income tax (37% bracket, ~36.3% effective) | −$4,830,000 |
| Tennessee state income tax | $0 — no state income tax |
| Medicare tax (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K) | −$311,000 |
| Social Security tax (6.2% up to $184,500) | −$11,000 |
| Estimated Year 1 take-home | ~$8,148,000 |
The state income taxes Boozer does NOT pay compared to other draft picks:
vs. Dybantsa (DC 10.75%) → Boozer keeps ~$1.43M more per year
vs. Peterson (Utah 4.65%) → Boozer keeps ~$618K more per year
vs. a hypothetical pick in LA (California 13.3%) → Boozer keeps ~$1.77M more per year
Tennessee wasn't always fully income-tax-free. The Hall Income Tax, enacted in 1929, taxed interest income and dividends at rates up to 6% — but it never applied to wages, salaries, or NBA contracts. Then in 2021, Tennessee fully repealed even the Hall Tax, becoming one of the most tax-friendly states in the US for all income types.
Memphis also has no city or county income tax, unlike cities such as New York (which adds nearly 4% on top of state taxes), Philadelphia, or Detroit. Boozer's state and local tax bill is a round $0.
Even with zero home-state tax, Boozer still pays income tax in states where the Grizzlies play road games — a phenomenon called the "jock tax."
The math: When the Grizzlies play in California, Boozer owes California income tax on (games in CA ÷ total duty days) × annual salary. With potentially 4 California road games, that's 4 ÷ 82 × $13,300,000 = $648,780 of income allocated to California. At 13.3%, that's approximately $86,288 owed to California.
The Tennessee difference: Because Tennessee has no income tax, there's no home-state credit system to offset these jock tax payments. Boozer owes road-state taxes with no offset. However, because his home-state rate is $0 instead of 10.75% or 13.3%, his blended effective rate across all games is still dramatically lower than peers in high-tax markets.
The bright side: Games played in other no-tax states — Florida (Heat, Magic), Texas (Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets), Nevada (Warriors games in Vegas?) — generate zero jock tax. With several no-tax teams in the West, many of Memphis's road games carry no state tax liability at all.
Tennessee's zero-tax advantage makes Boozer the most tax-efficient pick in the top 3 — despite earning slightly less than Dybantsa and Peterson in Year 1.
| Pick / Player | Team Location | State Tax Rate | Est. Year 1 Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 — Cameron Boozer ★ | Memphis, Tennessee | 0% | ~$8.15M |
| #2 — Darryn Peterson | Salt Lake City, Utah | 4.65% flat | ~$7.91M |
| #1 — AJ Dybantsa | Washington, DC | 10.75% top rate | ~$7.46M |
| Hypothetical — California | Los Angeles / Sacramento | 13.3% | ~$6.74M |
| Hypothetical — New York (NYC) | New York City | 10.9% + 3.9% NYC | ~$6.37M |
Comparison uses estimated Year 1 salaries for Dybantsa (~$14.8M) and Peterson (~$14M). Federal taxes applied consistently per salary level. Jock tax not included.
The draft lottery doesn't let players choose their team — but the tax math reveals the real-dollar impact of where you land.
Federal: $4.83M · Tennessee: $0 · FICA: $322K · Best case for Boozer
Federal: $4.83M · California: $1.77M · FICA: $322K · Worst case among major markets
Over a 4-year rookie deal, the Tennessee vs. California tax gap is approximately $5.6M more in Boozer's pocket. Even compared to the relatively favorable Utah situation, Tennessee means roughly $2.5M more over the same period.
On his ~$13.3M Year 1 salary, Boozer's estimated take-home is approximately $8.15 million after federal income tax (~$4.83M) and Medicare taxes (~$322K). Tennessee has no state income tax, so he keeps about 61 cents on every dollar earned — the best ratio among the top 3 picks in 2026.
Boozer signed a 4-year rookie scale contract worth approximately $55 million with the Memphis Grizzlies. Year 1 is ~$13.3M, escalating annually. Years 3 and 4 are team options.
No. Tennessee has zero state income tax on wages and salaries. The old Hall Income Tax on investment income was fully repealed in 2021. Boozer's state and local tax bill is $0.
Compared to #1 pick Dybantsa (DC, 10.75%) and #2 pick Peterson (Utah, 4.65%), Boozer pays zero state income tax. He keeps $1.43M more per year than Dybantsa and $618K more per year than Peterson on comparable salaries.
NBA players pay income tax in every state where they play road games. Even in zero-tax Tennessee, Boozer still owes California, New York, Illinois, and other states their cut when the Grizzlies visit. But with a $0 home-state rate, his blended effective rate is still far lower than peers in high-tax markets.
Cameron Boozer is the son of NBA veteran Carlos Boozer. He grew up in Miami, attended Columbus High School, starred at Duke where he won the 2026 Naismith Award (22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 55.6% FG), and was selected #3 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Yes — it's the best. Tennessee is one of only a handful of no-income-tax states with an NBA team (Memphis Grizzlies). Along with Florida (Heat, Magic), Texas (Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets), Nevada, and Washington state, Tennessee gives players a significant advantage over peers in high-tax markets.
Over 4 years at escalating rookie scale salaries totaling ~$55M, Boozer's estimated after-tax take-home is approximately $32–33 million in Tennessee — a higher percentage of his gross contract than either Dybantsa or Peterson, despite a slightly lower total deal value.
No state income tax means more money in your pocket. Use our calculator to see what you'd keep in Tennessee — or any other state.
Calculate Tennessee Take-Home Pay →All salary figures based on publicly reported rookie scale contract values. Tax estimates are illustrative and based on 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rates. Individual tax situations vary. Not financial or legal advice.