Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was recently interviewed with rapid-fire questions, and when asked what he’d do as NBA commissioner for a day during a rapid-fire interview, he echoed his team’s championship mentality: “Give players equity in team.” Preach Chef Curry, preach!

The equity conversation isn’t a new one. Michele Roberts, head of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), hinted at this pursuit during a January 2021 SporticoLive event. She shone light on the fact that players are invested in the league’s growth, contributing significantly to its multi-billion dollar business, yet ownership remains a question.

Roberts acknowledged the existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) prohibiting player ownership stakes. However, some optimism flickered when she stated, “We’ve got a collective bargaining agreement that says we can’t [own stakes], and hopefully down the road we’ll make some changes,” She continued, “The players will be the last to suggest that we want to see the game’s value, or teams’ values, in any way diminish, but it sure would be nice to be able to go to the party.”

Challenges remain for player ownership. The current CBA restricts active players from owning teams, primarily to prevent conflicts of interest and potential salary cap manipulation. Roberts acknowledges these concerns but believes solutions exist to grant players a stake while maintaining fair competition

Reaching this goal calls for collaborative efforts between the league and the players’ association. The current CBA, signed in 2016, expires after the 2023-24 season.

Owning A Piece Of The Action

In June 2023, the NBA has released its new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement has made several substantial changes, including allowing the players to invest in NBA and WNBA teams albeit, not exceeding 5%. T e specifics are still being finalized, with the league currently authorizing three such funds

Ensuring compliance with legal regulations is a joint effort between the NBA and NBPA. Similar to existing rules requiring a minimum number of games played for full salary eligibility, the new agreement outlines the framework for player investment.

Here’s the exciting part: players can now own a slice of the WNBA pie (up to 4% individually and 8% collectively for non-NBA owned teams). Plus, the NBPA can invest in private equity funds that buy stakes in NBA teams, with a 5% cap. Basically, a piece of the action for everyone.

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So, Steph Curry’s golden response was spot on. The game’s about to change, and the players may finally be getting a piece of the action. What do you think about this new development? Share in the comments below!

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