David Kelly, the new executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, spoke out last week against the second tax apron rules in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, arguing that the second-apron restrictions should be removed or at least “softened.”

In an interview with Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, Kelly reiterated that the NBPA is opposed to the second apron.

“It’s not good for fans. Not good for players. I don’t think the (general managers) love it, although they may not say it on the record. Coaches don’t love it. The only people who really seem to really love it are the owners,” Kelly told The Athletic. “Then, I think it’s gone too far. So whether it’s an unwinding of it, or a softening of the apron, or tweaking it, we can call it whatever we will. But … I do think it’s gone too far.”

As Vorkunov writes, while the current CBA continues ensure players to receive between 49 and 51 percent of all basketball-related income, Kelly noted that NBA front offices have been forced to dismantle their rosters when they become too costly. Kelly is concerned that free agency has been diminished the past few years and pushed back on the NBA’s stance that the new CBA created parity, pointing out that five different teams won the championship in the five seasons leading up to the 2023 CBA.

“I think those teams would generate more revenue, would grow the game, would have more fan interest, if they could invest (in their rosters),” he said. “So you’re preventing teams from investing in an investment that would actually generate more revenue for the owners, for the league and for the players. … So 51 percent of what? I think the game would be growing more.”

Although the union will attempt to work out issues with the league behind the scenes, Kelly made it clear to Vorkunov that the NBPA has to be “prepared to fight” when necessary. Kelly said it was too early to tell if the union would opt out of the current CBA by July 1, 2029, but said informal talks about the CBA could start next year.

“We’re getting ready for the next CBA,” NBPA president Fred VanVleet said. “Like today.”