The NBPA also raised concerns that the NBA’s second apron is having a negative impact on roster construction, forcing teams to break up successful cores and encouraging star players to accept below-market contracts.
“I don’t know that fans in Boston would say that everyone’s making out fine [in the current system], or that fans in New York would say that everyone is making out fine,” said Kelly.
“You have a [Celtics] team that just came off of a championship [in 2024] that will not have those guys together. We see that as a problem for our members, but also for the fans and for the game.”
Kelly pointed to recent decisions by teams such as the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks as evidence that financial restrictions are outweighing basketball considerations.
The union also referenced Victor Wembanyama’s recent five-year, $252 million extension with the San Antonio Spurs, which came in below the maximum contract he was eligible to receive, as an example of players potentially sacrificing earnings to help their teams remain competitive under the current system.
NBPA Director David Kelly Wants Second Apron 'Softened' Or Removed https://t.co/sAoS81VuW3
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 11, 2026
