The current NBA collective bargaining agreement with the apron system and strict tax penalties has certainly faced a lot of criticism, but the people who matter most seem to be big fans. Commissioner Adam Silver has spoken favorably of the CBA in the past, and on Tuesday, he came out with a very strong statement of support.
"The point was to design a system - I'm not embarrassed to say more NFL-like- where every team was put in a position where, regardless of market size, they could compete for championships. Eight different champions over the last eight years. That isn't necessarily a sign of success. I'm fine if teams repeat, but I think, over success of collective bargaining agreements, and revenue-sharing systems, and other changes we've made, we've gotten closer to building the kind of parity of opportunity we want"
This isn’t exactly a revelation, but it’s a powerful message and shows that despite what any fans, players, or media members may think, the league is thrilled with this system and how it has impacted competitive balance.
The superteam era of the NBA is dead and gone
For ages, the NBA has been defined by dynasties and eras with teams and superstars reigning supreme, but as Silver pointed out, that has changed with eight new champions in the last eight seasons.
They intentionally designed a system that was supposed to make it hard to sustain success, to stamp out superteams and dynasties, and to create the type of parity where any team in any market can build a true title contender; something that didn’t feel possible until recently.
And for the most part, the NBA has succeeded. They clearly got what they wanted, and it doesn’t sound like things are going to change any time soon. And that means that teams have to adjust and adapt.
Stevens has set up the Celtics for sustained success in apron era
That’s what Brad Stevens and the Celtics have done over the past few years, and comments like this one from Silver serve as a sort of vindication for the way they’ve operated. Boston built an absolute juggernaut that won it all in 2024, but the second apron was going to destroy that team, and Stevens knew it.
He tore it down and has spent the last two offseasons completely rebuilding around Jayson Tatum. They’re now out of the luxury tax for the second straight season, ready to reset the repeater tax, and they have a roster loaded with young, cheap, versatile depth that perfectly complements the superstar, JT.
We’ll see whether it ends up working out or not and results in multiple titles, but it has become clear that this is what it takes to stay in contention for a long stretch of time. That’s what the Celtics have done, and they are set up to continue along that path, with the flexibility to load up even more for another run in the next few years.
Fans may not love it. They may think that ownership is to blame for the direction of the franchise. But Stevens has insisted every chance he gets that this is his vision and he’s the one calling the shots. He and his front office understand this CBA as well as anyone, and hopefully, he remains ahead of the curve and is on the path to figuring out how to maintain a leg up on the competition.
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