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Most NBA fans today are pretty familiar with terms like second apron, salary cap restrictions and mid-level exceptions. Not to mention the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), which is often a point of contention between the team owners and players. At the same time, there remains a tab on the information available to the public, and rightly so.
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Nonetheless, fans are often inquisitive about the incentives and perks that come with being an NBA star. Recently, four-time champion Draymond Green offered some interesting insights into the business of basketball while addressing some fan questions on his podcast.
During the Q&A session, Green was asked whether certain NBA players were also entitled to special incentives and facilities, as in Major League Baseball (MLB).
“So, we’re not allowed to get suites. We’re not allowed to get stuff for family. We are simply allowed to negotiate the amount of money that we’re going to make, the payment terms, all those, but we’re not allowed to get suites in our negotiation or private jet hours,”
But that’s not the case in the NBA, with the salary cap being set at $164.96 million for the 2026-27 season.
At least the second apron in the NBA keeps the sport from turning into the Dodgers and everyone else like MLB has.
To be clear, the Dodgers aren’t doing anything wrong. They should acquire everyone. It’s just silly that MLB has let it become like this.
– Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 2, 2026
The Golden State Warriors veteran explained that there was a dollar amount for suites and flight hours that MLB players didn’t have to count toward their salaries. Even though not 100 percent sure if they do that today as well, Green revealed how the National Football League (NFL) also allowed some of its players to have suites.
Following the MLB path
The NBA is currently dealing with one of its biggest scandals, involving circumvention of salary cap rules, with Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers at the center. It was reported that the Klaw had signed an off-the-books $28 million no-show endorsement deal with the fintech firm Aspiration.
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But as the investigation continued for over a year, it was revealed that money was funneled through four additional companies, opening up a can of worms. As strong reactions continue to pour in, Green, some time back, shared his reaction, saying that if the punishments weren’t steep, everybody should do it and that he wasn’t mad at Leonard, Steve Ballmer, or Lawrence Frank. For Dray, the bigger question involved the salary cap rules.
“There’s no salary cap in baseball. League operates just fine. Players that deserve the bulk of the money get the bulk of the money. Players that don’t, don’t. Simple. I think this is a much larger conversation that needs to be had. I think everyone’s ‘Man, Kawhi’s wrong. Will the trade get finalized? What will be the punishment?’ Let the punishment be getting rid of the salary cap,” said Draymond, who is about to enter his 15th year in the league.
In the past, Green has also been critical of the NBA’s revenue system and how he thinks the league works against players financially.
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The fines and taxes are a lot to deal with
Draymond believes the NBA isn’t particularly encouraging of players making money, highlighting the heavy fines and taxes involved. He also said the job wasn’t set up for the way players are taxed and that, at the drop of a hat, players could lose $5,000 if an NBA official was mad at them for what they said.
One could argue that Draymond’s perspective is biased, given the number of fines he has received over the years. Back in December 2025, the Warriors star officially hit $1 million in career fines. Green has also lost over $3.2 million in suspensions. On the other hand, you can’t argue with California’s high tax rates.
However, as far as the NBA’s comparisons with other leagues go, there are a lot of ifs and buts about how much a player actually takes home. At the same time, players also need to be more financially aware, something Green has been advocating, especially when it comes to understanding their contracts.
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 2:53 AM.