Overview
- The NBPA, speaking through new executive director David Kelly, publicly declared on Thursday that players should receive a negotiated share of revenue from the planned NBA Europe because the project trades on the NBA players’ brand and cachet.
- Kelly said the current CBA does not require NBA Europe income to be paid to players and he does not expect a full 51 percent split, but he seeks a reasonable 'good faith' share to be negotiated in the next deal.
- There have been no formal negotiations with the league or Commissioner Adam Silver so far and discussions remain informal even as the NBA builds the Europe league’s commercial framework.
- Kelly also sharply criticized the NBA’s 'second apron' salary threshold, saying the rule has made it harder for teams to keep core players together and shifted costs and roster decisions onto players.
- NBA Europe is expected to begin operating in fall 2027, and the union’s public stance signals the issue could become central to CBA talks if either side uses the October 2028 opt-out to reopen the agreement ahead of its June 30, 2030 expiry.