All players with no-trade clause in the NBA for the 2025/26 season

No-trade clauses are uncommon in the NBA, as specific requirements must be met to be eligible. Even players meeting those conditions do not always have enough bargaining power to demand one, significantly limiting franchises' flexibility in future dealings.

To negotiate a no-trade clause, a player must have at least eight years of NBA experience and have played four seasons with their current team (not necessarily consecutive or recent). Additionally, the clause can only be included in a new contract as a free agent, not an extension.

For the second consecutive year, several players will have explicit no-trade clauses in their contracts for the 2025/26 season. LeBron James included it when signing his current contract in 2024, and now Damian Lillard negotiated one in his new deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Last season, the only players with this privilege were LeBron James and Bradley Beal, although the latter recently gave it up by agreeing to leave the Phoenix Suns through a buyout.

Before the 2024/25 season, the last time more than one player had a no-trade clause was in 2017/18, with James (in Cleveland), Dirk Nowitzki, and Carmelo Anthony being the only cases.

In addition to James and Lillard, there are other players who, without explicit clauses, will have similar protection for the 2025/26 season, having renewed for one year or through option contracts.

A player who renews with their previous team for one year (or two with an option) has the right to veto any trade unless they explicitly waive that protection when signing. This rule does not apply to two-way contracts but does to standard one-year contracts, including those signed via the qualifying offer.

Those who have signed an offer with another team that was later matched by their original club also have veto rights, guaranteeing that protection for a full year.

Players with no-trade clauses in the 2025/26 season

With explicit no-trade clauses:

• LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

• Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)

Players whose offer was matched (none in this category)

Players who renewed for one year (or two with an option) and can therefore veto a trade:

• Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers)

• Collin Gillespie (Phoenix Suns)

• James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers)

• Aaron Holiday (Houston Rockets)

• Joe Ingles (Minnesota Timberwolves)

• Kyle Lowry (Philadelphia 76ers)

• Jericho Sims (Milwaukee Bucks)

• Jae’Sean Tate (Houston Rockets)

• Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets)

• Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)

It's worth noting that if any of these players accept a trade during the 2025/26 season, they will lose their full Bird rights and shift to Non-Bird rights at the end of the season. They will still retain the veto right in any subsequent deal during the season.

Players who waived their veto right in 2025/26:

• Eric Gordon (Philadelphia 76ers)

• Jeff Green (Houston Rockets)

• Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers)

• Chris Livingston (Milwaukee Bucks)

• Jordan McLaughlin (San Antonio Spurs)

• Kevin Porter Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks)

• Taurean Prince (Milwaukee Bucks)

• Garrett Temple (Toronto Raptors)

• Gary Trent Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks)

The option to waive the veto right was introduced as a choice in the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement.