NBA disputes claim that second apron is hurting middle-class players

The NBA has pushed back against claims that its second tax apron is hurting lower-paid and middle-class players. In an October 9 statement from NBA Communications, the league said roster spots had remained unchanged and annual player salaries had risen by nearly $1.3 billion since the apron was introduced.

The league also said pay had increased by approximately 30% across all classes of players. Those figures are the NBA’s account of the market, not an independent finding that every individual player has benefited equally.

The disagreement behind the statement

Hoops Rumors reported that the statement appeared to respond to comments by Bruce Brown, who is in Knicks camp on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract. Brown had said the current agreement works better for maximum-salary players and top free agents than for players in the middle of the market.

The distinction matters. Total pay can rise while a particular player finds fewer guaranteed offers or a team has less flexibility to make a signing. The NBA’s statement disputes a league-wide claim; it does not announce a change to the collective bargaining agreement or its apron restrictions.

Hoops Rumors noted that 17 players signed through some form of the mid-level exception had negotiated salaries of at least $6 million for 2026-27, including four at $14 million or more. Its comparison was 10 such signings at $5 million or more in 2023-24. The thresholds differ, so that comparison should not be mistaken for a same-dollar measure of individual pay growth.

Recent reports asserted that the second apron is hurting “lower” and “middle” class players. That’s untrue. Since the implementation of the second apron, the number of players on team rosters has remained the same and annual salaries have increased by nearly $1.3 billion…

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 9, 2026

Checked October 10, 2026. Sources: NBA Communications and Hoops Rumors.