Charles Barkley Links NBA’s Second Apron Penalties to LeBron James and Kevin Durant
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Basketball Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley believes the NBA’s stricter salary-cap penalties were written with a pair of superstars in mind: LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Speaking on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Barkley said the league’s new two-apron system—approved in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement—was a direct response to high-profile players forming “superteams.”
“They all want to play together”
“Why did Adam Silver have to put the second apron in?” Barkley asked. “Because LeBron wanted to get all his guys together. KD wanted to go play with the Warriors. We can’t let one team hoard all the good players.”
The second apron, set roughly $17.5 million above the luxury-tax threshold, sharply limits front-office flexibility for clubs that exceed it in consecutive seasons. Teams above the line face trade restrictions, cannot aggregate salaries in trades, and lose key exceptions in free agency.
Past moves cited
Barkley referenced two landmark player moves: James joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat in 2010, and Durant signing with a Golden State Warriors lineup already featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in 2016. James won two titles with Miami; Durant captured two rings with Golden State.
“They had Klay, Steph and Draymond and they didn’t need KD,” Barkley said. “Don’t get mad at Adam Silver because y’all wanted to dominate the league and didn’t want to compete.”
Continued respect for LeBron
Despite the criticism, Barkley reiterated that he still ranks James alongside Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant as the best players he has watched.
The NBA and its teams are now adjusting to the new cap structure, which has already influenced roster decisions across the league as clubs aim to avoid repeat violations of the second apron.
Source: Lakers Nation
