Overview
- On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Charles Barkley said LeBron James and Kevin Durant drove the superteam era that prompted the NBA’s second-apron rules.
- Kevin Durant responded on X by pointing to former Warriors GM Bob Myers, writing that he “selects Bob Myers as the fall guy.”
- Richard Jefferson pushed back on Road Trippin’, calling Barkley’s stance hypocritical and citing Barkley’s 1996 move to Houston alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and later Scottie Pippen.
- The second apron, created in the 2023 CBA, limits tools and maneuverability for high spenders, including a lost mid-level exception, curbs on distant first-round pick trades, and bans on using cash or prior trade exceptions.
- Coverage notes the policy was designed with repeat big spenders such as the Warriors and Clippers in mind, as owners sought tighter competitive balance.