NBA Plans to Cancel 102 Games

105 84
This would be the third time commissioner David Stern has postponed games as the league's lockout of the players continues. The NBA had previously canceled the preseason and the first two weeks of its regular season, which was set to begin on Nov. 1.

Bill Simmons goes inside the NBA labor negotiations with NBPA executive director Billy Hunter. Hunter shares his thoughts on what is holding up a deal and when the two sides might meet next.

According to the Daily News' source, this latest cancellation would total at least 102 games and run through Nov. 28.

The source told the Daily News that the NBA will announce the latest cancellation of games on Tuesday.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard Tuesday that representatives for the NBA owners and players talked Monday. The sources did not say whether the parties met in person, but said the discussions were lengthy and related to collective bargaining.

No further meetings between the sides are scheduled, the sources said.

At present, the league's annual slate of Christmas Day games remain a possibility. But time is drawing short.

After three days and 30 hours of meetings with a federal mediator last week, negotiations fell apart last week when union officials said they were told they must commit to a 50-50 split of revenues before owners would agree to discuss the salary cap system.

"We've indicated that we're ready to sit down and negotiate with [the owners] on a minute's notice," players' association executive director Billy Hunter said Monday on Grantland.com's "B.S. Report with Bill Simmons." "We've indicated that we're prepared to negotiate and continue negotiations but for the fact that the owners told us [their latest offer] was take it or leave it and only unless we agree to the 50-50. But we can't agree to the 50-50 if we don't have a system in place."

While neither side has said definitively one way or the other, the combatants both seem prepared in the event the season is canceled.

The NBA owners have locked out the players, and little progress has been made in negotiations. ESPN.com Topics keeps you up to date with all of the latest on the NBA's ongoing lockout.

"The competitive issues and the economic issues, certainly we don't want to lose the season, I don't think the NHL did either. It ended up happening," Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of the owners' labor relations committee, said last week. "There are certain things that we feel we must have."

Hunter told Simmons that while the players are committed to reaching agreement with the NBA to end the lockout they also want a "fair deal" or they are ready to stand firm in labor talks.

"They are principled individuals and I think that they realize the struggle that they are incurring," he said. "They may be paid at a higher level but it's the same issue that we see that is endemic right now, not only in our country but around the world -- it's about folks at the top who have the leverage and power who need to impose upon the workers of the world.
"Most of our players when they end playing basketball they are going to be living for another 40 years or so. And so I don't know how long that money is going to last," he added. "Even if they made every prudent investment that they could possibly make, I don't know at what level they are going to be able to live. But I think after a while it just becomes a principle. For a lot of these players that is what it's about."

The players and owners are all talking about principles. Quoting Allen Iverson, "its not about practice, it's about the games". Principles wont mean much if the season is lost anf fans decide that the league would rather play wit hits principles rather than play basketball.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

"Society & Culture & Entertainment" MOST POPULAR