Kevin Love
The NBA’s second apron continues to divide the league, and Kevin Love is clearly fed up with how the system is reshaping roster construction.
During a recent appearance on the Old Man and the Three, Love delivered an unfiltered critique of the apron rules introduced under the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement. His frustration focused on how the financial thresholds restrict teams that draft and develop talent, using the Oklahoma City Thunder as his primary example.
“I’ll tell you what’s really fcking stupid, these Aprons are fcking with the game,” Love said. “That’s on our side, they know exactly who they are that did it. You’re telling me OKC can’t keep those three guys together because of these Aprons? That’s bullsht. You’re telling me Sam Presti is handcuffed because of these fcking Aprons?”
Love also emphasized that the ripple effects extend beyond star players and front offices, arguing that veterans stand to lose the most under the new system.
“It’s also going to hit teams’ cap when signing a veteran,” Love added. “And I think veterans matter.”
What the NBA’s second apron actually does
The NBA operates with a soft salary cap, allowing teams to exceed spending limits through exceptions and luxury tax payments, per NBC Sports. For years, that structure enabled franchises like the Golden State Warriors to maintain championship cores while absorbing massive tax bills.
The second apron changes that calculus.
Entering the 2025–26 season, the NBA salary cap is projected at $154.6 million, with the luxury tax line at $187.9 million. The first apron sits at $195.9 million, while the second apron jumps to $207.8 million, per ESPN projections. Teams that cross the second apron face harsh restrictions that go well beyond paying extra tax.
Second-apron penalties include losing access to the mid-level exception, the inability to absorb contracts in trades, restrictions on using trade exceptions, limitations on trading future first-round picks, and the inability to send cash in deals. Teams that remain in the second apron for three of five seasons also see their first-round pick automatically pushed to the end of the draft.
In practice, that means expensive teams lose nearly every traditional tool used to adjust rosters around star-heavy cores.
Pushback on Love’s OKC framing
While Love’s frustration resonated with many players, basketball analytics account Le Basket Lab pushed back on the idea that the apron outright prevents Oklahoma City from keeping its core together.
“They can absolutely keep them if they want, go over the cap, pay the tax, and keep them,” the account wrote on X, noting that the apron creates limitations but does not mandate breakups.
Le Basket Lab also pointed out a historical parallel. Oklahoma City famously failed to keep its original trio together in 2012, long before apron rules existed. At the time, ownership opted against paying the tax to retain James Harden, despite Sam Presti remaining at the helm.
That context complicates Love’s argument, but it does not erase the broader concern he raised.
A growing tension between players and the system
Love’s comments highlight a growing tension within the league. While the apron was designed to promote parity and curb runaway spending, many players believe it punishes teams for successful drafting and development. Veterans, in particular, may find fewer opportunities as teams prioritize cheap rookie contracts over experienced depth.
Whether the second apron achieves its intended goals or creates unintended consequences remains to be seen. For now, Love’s blunt assessment reflects a sentiment that is becoming louder across locker rooms: the NBA’s new financial guardrails may be changing the game in ways players never signed up for.