NBPA chief criticizes NBA second apron and NBA Europe revenue

National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) executive director David Kelly has voiced strong opposition to several league policies, including the NBA’s ‘second apron’ salary cap restrictions and the upcoming launch of NBA Europe.

Regarding the second apron, Kelly argued that the rules make it increasingly difficult for teams to maintain successful rosters, forcing organizations to make financial decisions rather than basketball-driven ones. He noted that while the league views these restrictions as necessary for parity, parity existed prior to the implementation of the apron.

On the subject of NBA Europe, which is slated to launch ahead of the 2027/28 season, Kelly stated the union has a ‘serious problem’ with players not receiving a share of the revenue. He argued that the new venture is being built on the cachet provided by current and former players and should therefore be subject to basketball-related income sharing under future collective bargaining agreements.

While Kelly confirmed there have been informal, pleasant conversations regarding these issues, he emphasized that the NBPA will remain firm on these priorities during upcoming negotiations.