There's no doubt that in the world of the NBA, money flows unlike anywhere else. From extravagant cars to shiny jewelry and every luxury the mind can imagine, players often live life in the fast lane. But when the time comes to pick up the tab during a team dinner, things can get a little… well, let's just say, complicated. Former NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets , Vlatko Cancar , dove into the delicate part of covering nightly expenses and how some guys, whom he didn't name, always seem to find a way out of it
"The club covers it. A certain amount. Anything above that, we pay ourselves. It's an unwritten rule — the one who earns the most picks up the tab. What can you do…" the Slovenian forward explained in his recent appearance on the "X & O's CHAT."
Before he came into the NBA, Cancar spent years playing all across Europe, from Serbia and Spain to his native Slovenia, and he says the culture around paying is very different compared to the States. In Europe, the veterans, the guys who had earned their stripes and secured their financial future, rarely allowed anyone else, especially the young players still on their rookie or initial deals, to pick up the bill. Even if the younger guys insisted, the older ones would simply wave them off. That's just how it was.
However, as Cancar noted, things change drastically once you cross the Atlantic, especially when those hefty price tags enter the equation.
"In the NBA it's a different story, the prices are insane," Cancar added. "But it's their fault, you know, because they order these wines that cost four, five thousand dollars, you get me? It's just showing off, totally unnecessary, you know? Any wine is wine, man, honestly... Some of it smells bad, tastes sour. What do you need that for? Just grab some vodka, get drunk, and who cares, you know?" And then, of course… But you know how it is — Americans start backing off, you know? As soon as they see the bill coming, they're up like, 'I gotta wash my hands,' and just like that, he's gone."
Who would have thought that even among millionaires, some dinners can turn into a game of hide and seek...
Cancar's production on the court was limited, to say the least. In 143 career NBA games, he averaged just 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. But even if he wasn't a major on-court contributor, he earned over $11 million in contract money during his time in the league and, more importantly, walked away with a championship ring from Denver's 2023 title run.
Now, the Slovenian forward is back in Europe, hoping to revive his career with more playing time and a bigger role. Still, his stories serve as a reminder that even in a world where money seems endless, not everyone treats it the same way.
Vlatko has seen it all — from European camaraderie at the dinner table to NBA teammates suddenly remembering they "have to wash their hands" when the check arrives, and he makes sure to tell those stories to add a touch of everyday happenings to the otherwise unimaginable lives of superstar athletes.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
