Getty Image / Nic Antaya
It’s been over a decade of labor peace between the NBA and the NBA Players Association, with seemingly very few issues between the sides. Not since the lockout in the 2011 offseason has there been a work stoppage, and it appears as if another one is not coming anytime soon.
The two sides avoided a crucial Friday night opt-out deadline with an agreement on a contract. While, the deal isn’t done officially until ratified by a vote of the owners and the players, that seems to be a formality at this point.
Labor peace: The NBA and National Basketball Players Association have reached a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, per source.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2023
As with any new CBA, big changes are coming to the league. Here are some of the major details, courtesy of Shams.
NBA and NBPA have agreed to a minimum number of games played – 65 games – for players to be eligible to win major individual league awards such as MVP in the new CBA, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2023
Sources: Additional changes in new CBA:
– A second tax apron that, when reached, will eliminate a team's taxpayer mid-level exception
– Veteran extension limits will increase from 120 percent to 140 percent
– A third two-way contract via cap exception https://t.co/OWyMT7tQMF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2023
Sources: NBA players will no longer be prohibited for marijuana under the new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. It's been removed from the anti-drug testing program, a process that began during 2019-20 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 1, 2023
That last one is surely going to be a big hit with players and fans alike, as public opinion has definitely swayed towards the legalization of marijuana nationwide.
Some of these changes are pretty important and will prevent teams like the Golden State Warriors from spending way over the salary cap via huge luxury tax payments. And, players are going to be much less likely to sit out games unnecessarily, as they will be ineligible for big awards such as MVP and possibly All-NBA. Remember, in the NBA, those awards are tied to how much money a player can make on max contracts, which means a lot to players.
Surely more details will be coming out in the next few days.