Last Tuesday would’ve been the start of the NBA regular season if not for the lockout. The NBA lockout has lasted for over 120 days and there is no end in sight. Talks between the owners and the players are continuing and the only thing that can’t be decided is how much each side gets in the revenue split. The owners are willing to split the revenues 50/50 but the players want more. One side is going to have to cave or there might not be any games till after Christmas.
I think the owners have the upper hand in this battle for multiple reasons. The first being that David Stern, the NBA commissioner, wants the season to begin and has given the players an ultimatum. Accept the new deal, 51% for players and 49% for owners, or it will decrease in further proposals created by the owners.
The second is that the players have not shown very much unity throughout this whole process. Kobe Bryant might play in Italy, Derron Williams of the Nets is playing in Turkey, and Delonte West is working at Regency. Other players including Lebron, Carmelo, Chris Paul, Bosch, and Wade have been participating in basketball events around the world. They almost did a tour over in Europe before cancelling it to focus on the lockout. Even Keven Durant participated in a flag football game with a college fraternity in Oklahoma to have something to do.
The third is how much each side is worth. The owners are worth billions of dollars while the players are only worth millions. This gives the owners the advantage over how long each side will be able to go without seeing a paycheck.
For myself as a fan of basketball I just want it to end. I want to sit in front of the television and watch the Celtics play, see Blake Griffen do his amazing dunks, and debate on whether the Heat will win the NBA championship this year. I speak for all fans when I say, “make a deal and end this lockout, please.”
