It’s going to be a very happy holiday season for the NBA and fans of basketball everywhere.
After over 15 hours of negotiating last night, the players and owners agreed on a deal just after 3 a.m. Eastern Time that will bring back professional basketball on December 25, Christmas Day, after a lockout that lasted 148 days.
After a secret meeting earlier this week, the sides returned to the table to try to hash out a deal. Commissioner David Stern has said the league needs about 30 days from an agreement to when games could be played.
Executive director of the NBPA Billy Hunter declined to discuss details of the plan, saying the players need to hear about the deal first. Hunter also said that he’s confident that the players would support the new deal.
Under the deal, a 66-game season would begin on Christmas.
This handshake deal still must be ratified by both owners and players before training camps, free agency and trades can start. – Associated Press
After over 15 hours of negotiating last night, the players and owners agreed on a deal just after 3 a.m. Eastern Time that will bring back professional basketball on December 25, Christmas Day, after a lockout that lasted 148 days.
After a secret meeting earlier this week, the sides returned to the table to try to hash out a deal. Commissioner David Stern has said the league needs about 30 days from an agreement to when games could be played.
Executive director of the NBPA Billy Hunter declined to discuss details of the plan, saying the players need to hear about the deal first. Hunter also said that he’s confident that the players would support the new deal.
Under the deal, a 66-game season would begin on Christmas.
This handshake deal still must be ratified by both owners and players before training camps, free agency and trades can start. – Associated Press
