Tuesday’s labor negotiation between the NBA and the players association has apparently ended poorly. After plenty of positive rhetoric surfing around the internet the last week, all the positivity appears to be out the door as players and owners refuse to come to an agreement.
Multiple sources are reporting that today’s meeting ended poorly, and that the odds of the season starting on time are currently slim.
Billy Hunter, chief of the players union, said today following the meetings that he is ‘pessimistic’ about the season starting on time. In fact, Hunter stated that they had informed the players they may have to sit out half the season before we get a deal.
Derek Fisher also seemed disheartened after the news today. “It’s discouraging and it’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality of where we are right now,” Fisher stated. “Obviously because of the calendar, we can’t come out of this thinking that training camps and the season will start on time.”
This is certainly disheartening news after a week of apparent optimism. To make matters worse, there are no future meetings scheduled between the league and the players, meaning the league is currently stuck in neutral. Until further meetings are scheduled and eventually attended, there will be no NBA basketball.