Basketball fans rejoice. The 2011-12 NBA season, once thought to be as likely as Kim Kardashian shunning the media, has been all but saved.
Yes, the NBA lockout, which had lasted 5 excruciating months, appeared to have ended yesterday after a marathon 15 hour negotiation meeting that lasted until 3am, New York time.
Representatives for the NBA owners and players, the two protagonists in this battle, reached a tentative deal that would settle the various lawsuits involved in the dispute and lead to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will salvage what’s left of the 2011-12 season.
Whilst all the details are still to finalised, it appears the season will kick-off on Christmas Day, ensuring basketball fans across the globe will receive the one present they really wanted: the return of the NBA.
The reasons for the lockout are too complex to neatly summarise here, but at the heart of the dispute was how basketball related income was shared amongst the two parties. Under the previous CBA, the players received 57% of the revenue, and the owners 43%.
When the existing CBA expired at the end of the 2010-11 season, the owners wanted the new deal to be a 50/50 split. When the players rejected that deal, believing they were giving up far too much, the owners locked the players out, thereby preventing the season from tipping off on time.
The two parties argued over the revenue split for 149 long days, whilst also bickering over other considerations called ‘system issues’. These issues included matters like the maximum length of contracts and free agency rights. If a truce has been called, it appears both sides have reached some common ground on such issues, with a new split that sees the players receive between 50% to 51% of revenue.
But as mentioned, the finer points of the new CBA have yet to be completely finalised.
However, the truth is, most fans simply do not care for the details. They just want their NBA back, and now it appears they’ll get their wish.
I use the word ‘appears’, because both the owners and the players still need to officially sign off on the deal, as do both side’s lawyers. But after all the acrimony, posturing and sniping, it’s difficult to imagine the parties would call a press conference to announce a deal if it wasn’t as good as done.
So what happens now?
The season will obviously be a shortened one. Instead of the traditional 82 regular season games for each club, teams will only play 66 games, with the season commencing on December 25th.
Existing contracts will remain in place.
Training camps and the free agency period are scheduled to begin on approximately December 9th, ensuring a highly entertaining and hectic couple of weeks, as teams scramble to fill their roster for the season.
If you thought last year’s free agency frenzy was crazy, highlighted by LeBron James’ move to Miami, just wait until we witness such events in an incredibly condensed two week period. Pandemonium is all but guaranteed.
The NBA: where amazing happens. Just a little bit later than usual.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
I was really surprised when news broke that they had an agreement - who would have thought they could negotiate like adults when they had to. Unfortunately it got to this point in the first place. The fact is this season is going to be of a poor quality - no real training camp, much more tightly bunched games, etc plus the big uncertainty is which players will be seriously out of shape as I would imagine a few were caught off guard by the resolution. Players just wont be mentally or physically prepared. Squad depth will be critical, particularly for older teams, while some teams have lost a few important role players to China (which arent releasing them early) Saying all that, Im excited for the season to begin. The best athletes in the world across any sport IMO. Not sure how many Roarers have been watching the start of the college season? Its shaping up to be awesome this year - If you've got Fox, check out Ohio St - Duke tomorrow arvo AEST - should be a good match up. Any time you can catch Kentucky and UNC, they are definitely worth a look too.
mushi
Guest
Only problem with the 66 game season is that you’re going to get a very compressed schedule as it averages more than a game every two days so way more back to backs after allowing for travel etc. Going to be tough on old legs. People already talking about how this affects the teams with either older or injury prone stars. The Lakers will have to manage Bryant and Bynum. The Celtics will have their front court depth tested and the hornets may have some Paul issues. Sounds like it may be a pretty good opportunity for the Heat, Thunder, Memphis, Chi town and Orlando.
Jason Cave
Guest
After all, the new deal has to be ratified (ie signed off) by both the NBA and the former players association before it's 'game on.' Unfortunately, the NBA has a lot of lost ground to make up now, with the NFL & NHL seasons in full flight and most people talking about football and ice hockey rather than NBA.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
The triple header to start the season on Christmas (boxing) day: Celtic v Knicks, Heat v Mavericks and Bulls v Lakers. That what it looks like at this stage.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I think if we're all honest anyway, a 66 game season is probably a better length. Maybe 70 is the absolute optimum. 82 games sees too many teams too tired to really compete when playing their 5th game on the road in 6 days. Shortening the schedule a bit will keep everyone fresh and the games more regularly hard fought so that the regular season doesn't just seem like a waiting game for the play offs. Glad they could work out how to split all their cash. I saw a "headline" on twitter for it: Billionaires have finally successfully Colluded to lose less money on their Hobby". It really is like that and it's a shame it meant that fans missed games.
Big V
Guest
Miami- The Collingwood of the NBA, keep on choking in the finals.
Global
Guest
Great news cant wait to see Miami lose again... And looks like the NBL would have lost Patty Mills anyhow....