How do you apply the 25% rule?

The application of the 25% rule primarily concerns the restrictions placed on rookie players' salaries in relation to a team’s salary cap. The 25% rule is often utilized in the context of rookie contracts to ensure that the salary increases from year to year remain manageable and within the confines of the overall salary cap structure.

The selected answer involves calculating 25% of the year-one rookie salary and then adding that amount back to the player's previous year (denoted as P5). This methodology is in line with how salary adjustments are structured, particularly for rookies who are entering their first contracts. Specifically, this ensures that any increase in compensation is regulated and promotes fairness and moderation in contract negotiations.

The reason other options do not align with the rule is due to a misunderstanding of how salary increases function within the context of rookie contracts. Simply multiplying the first year's salary by 1.25 does not accurately reflect the constraints of the 25% rule as it does not involve the necessary reference to the previous salary. Focusing on just the second-year salary misapplies the concept, while referencing 25% of the entire salary cap disregards the specific application to individual player salaries and contracts.