NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended the second apron as a mechanism that was collectively bargained, amidst concerns it acts like a hard salary cap. This follows Victor Wembanyama’s recent $252.2 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs, which raised alarms about financial burdens on players for team competitiveness. Silver emphasized the system’s effectiveness, citing the recent NBA Finals featuring teams from both large and small markets. In contrast, NBPA executive director David Kelly criticized the apron for disrupting championship teams and expressed regret over the union’s negotiations regarding it.
