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The NBA is more popular than its ever been before.
Television ratings are through the roof. Ticket and jersey sales are skyrocketing, and franchises are more valuable than they’ve ever been.
But that comes with some complications.
One of those complications, and maybe even the largest one, is how all that new money is distributed. That gets determined via the collective bargaining agreement which is agreed to between the owners and the NBA players.
The current CBA, however, expires following the 2023-24 season. And with revenue through the roof, agreeing to a new CBA has been a bit more difficult than both sides would hope.
Now, it appears that the league could be headed for a lockout in the future according to NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Jason Owens of Yahoo Sports reports that Silver intends to opt out of current CBA should a new deal not be agreed upon before Friday.
“If we don’t have a deal by this Friday night and nothing else were to happen, yes, it would be our intention to opt out of the current deal,” Silver told reporters when asked about the league’s plans.
Should they opt out of the current CBA, the league could face a lockout if a new agreement isn’t reached by the end of June. This didn’t sit well with NBA Players Association executive director Tamika Tremaglio.
“The March 31st deadline is an important benchmark, and we are doing everything in our power to reach an agreement with the league. If we don’t have a deal and the league decides to opt out, it will be disappointing considering all the work both sides have put into the negotiations, and the fair nature of our requests. As far as our fans are concerned, it will be business as usual. Games will continue uninterrupted. The NBPA however does not intend to opt out,” Tremaglio’s statement reads. – via Yahoo Sports
The league last locked the playoffs out in 2011. That dispute eventually dragged into the season schedule, shortening the regular season from 82 games to 66 games.
Here’s hoping negotiations are a little more swift this time around.