NBA second apron's effect on mid-tier player salaries is disputed by data, report finds
A public dispute over whether the NBA's second apron — introduced in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement — has hurt middle-class players prompted the league to issue a rebuttal on X, citing roughly 30% salary increases across all player tiers. According to Sportico's own analysis of publicly available salary data, non-star players have actually outpaced stars: players earning between 10% and 25% of the salary cap saw aggregate pay jump 57%, while those earning between 4% and 10% of the cap saw a 59% increase. However, critics note that use of the full mid-level exception has dropped sharply, from 42 players signed under it three seasons ago to 24 last year, and that teams are increasingly reluctant to exceed the second-apron threshold due to its roster-building penalties. The players' union executive director argued that the financial burden of keeping championship rosters intact has increasingly fallen on players, citing multiple stars who signed extensions below their maximum eligible salary to preserve team flexibility.
The new CBA is good for certain players: max guys, top free agents and maybe rookie extension guys. The middle guys, it kind of sucks for us.
Why it matters
For service providers: The upcoming 2029-30 CBA expiration — with an opt-out a year earlier — makes the second apron a central negotiating issue that will reshape player compensation structures across the league.
For brands: Brands partnered with star players may see those athletes take discounted deals or change teams for financial reasons, affecting endorsement continuity and market reach.
For coaches: Coaches on contending teams face roster instability as financial restrictions push key rotation players to leave or accept below-market deals to preserve team flexibility.
For athletes: Pro players at all salary levels are affected by second-apron rules that shape how much teams are willing to offer in free agency and extensions, including pressure on stars to sign below their maximum value.
For collectives: The second apron directly limits how aggressively teams can build rosters, reducing the pool of mid-level exception signings and other transactions that collectives might facilitate.
Read the full story at Sportico
Sources
- Sportico · Lev Akabas: NBA’s Second Apron Isn’t Squeezing the Middle Class