NBA Lockout: Negotiations Fail, No More Scheduled Meetings
After 30 hours, talks to resolve the NBA lockout were unsuccessful on Thursday.
Over the course of three days, federal mediator George Cohen met with owners and players in an attempt to resolve issues concerning revenue shares and the salary cap. Adam Silver, NBA deputy commissioner, said the two opposing sides failed to come to an agreement and had no immediate plans to do so.
"Ultimately, we were unable to bridge the gap that separates the two parties," Silver said, according to ESPN. "We understand the ramifications of where we are. We're saddened on behalf of the game."
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Derek Fisher, NBA Union president, said the players were not trying to hold out for selfish reasons.
"This is not in any way about ego," he said. "There are a lot of people's livelihoods at stake separate from us."
David Stern, NBA commissioner, did not attend the league lockout negotiations between owners and players Thursday. After negotiations with federal mediator George Cohen lasted 16 hours Tuesday and over eight hours Wednesday, the Commissioner was sent home by his doctor with the flu.
Silver led a news conference in Stern’s absence and admitted that the negotiations have been tough on everybody.
“I'm sure David's flu was not helped, his symptoms were not helped by the fact that we had several late nights this week," Silver said, according to NBA.com. "It's been a long week for anybody, but particularly with our Board of Governors meetings and negotiations, and he just got a little bit worn down."
Although Silver could not confirm or deny what would become of the season, he admitted that both sides were working to save the dwindling game schedule.
"There's no doubt that once we come to an agreement with the players' association, we will have a common interest in putting together as complete a schedule as possible, and whether or not an 82-game schedule is still possible is unclear to me," Silver said in a press conference.
"As David has said previously, we've just lost part of the calendar. I think that's part of the pressure on both sides,” he stated.
