NBPA Executive Director David Kelly Calls for Rollback of NBA’s Second Tax Apron
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David Kelly, the recently appointed executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, renewed the union’s opposition to the NBA’s second luxury-tax apron during an interview published last week by The Athletic.
“It’s not good for fans. Not good for players,” Kelly told reporter Mike Vorkunov. “Coaches don’t love it. The only people who really seem to love it are the owners. I think it’s gone too far.”
The second apron, introduced in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, adds a strict layer of roster-building restrictions for teams that exceed a predetermined payroll threshold. Kelly argued that the rule forces front offices to break up successful cores and has dampened free agency activity since its implementation.
Although the CBA guarantees players between 49% and 51% of basketball-related income, Kelly contended that overall revenue would rise if clubs were allowed to invest more in their rosters. “You’re preventing teams from investing in an investment that would actually generate more revenue for the owners, for the league and for the players,” he said. “So 51 percent of what? I think the game would be growing more.”
Kelly added that the NBPA prefers to address the issue privately with the league but must be ready “to fight when necessary.” He said it is too early to predict whether the union will exercise its option to terminate the CBA by July 1, 2029, though informal discussions on potential changes could begin next year.
NBPA president Fred VanVleet signaled that preparations are already underway, stating, “We’re getting ready for the next CBA, like today.”
Source: HoopsRumors
