CJ McCollum Calls NBA CBA He Helped Negotiate ‘Not Perfect’

CJ McCollum, the Washington Wizards guard and former president of the NBA players' union, acknowledged issues with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) he helped negotiate during his four-year term ending recently. He stated that while the CBA is imperfect, it resulted from necessary negotiations amid the league's growing revenue and player salaries. The agreement, effective July 2023 and expiring after the 2029-30 season, introduced significant luxury tax aprons imposing strict penalties on teams exceeding salary thresholds.

McCollum specifically criticized the CBA for penalizing teams that draft successfully, forcing them to trade homegrown talent to avoid harsh tax repercussions. He cited the Oklahoma City Thunder—who recently signed drafted stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams to max extensions—as a current example, arguing such teams should retain players without constraints during championship-contention windows.

Despite leading negotiations as union president, McCollum downplayed his personal influence, emphasizing the process was collective rather than agenda-driven. He stated, "I didn’t have that much power, I didn’t have that much control," clarifying that decisions aimed to balance player interests amid proposed terms from owners.

McCollum also countered perceptions that the CBA shortchanged mid-tier players, asserting the "middle class" earns more than ever. He refuted claims that supporting casts lose money due to star salaries, maintaining overall compensation has risen across the board under the new agreement.