Atlanta Hawks centre Al Horford fears more games will be lost due to NBA Lockout
The cancelation of the first two weeks of the next season didn’t come as a big surprise for NBA players. Reason - that was the only thing to expect in the absence of the progress.
Since the NBA lockout took its first breath on 1st July, the NBA owners and players association have held many rounds of negotiations over the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). However, both the parties have so far remained shores apart on several issues, with the percentage of Basketball Related Income (BRI) being the top subject.
The players were 57 percent of the share under the previous CBA, but after concerns of financial losses for the franchises, they agreed to bring down their share of the pie to 53 percent. However, the owners want it to be 47 percent, something that is totally unacceptable to the players.
With the issue entering a do or die phase on Tuesday, October 18, there are wide spread fear that the whole NBA season might be lost if no breakthrough is achieved.
Atlanta Hawks centre threat Al Horford is one player, who endorses the point of view.
Horford recently expressed his views while talking to the Fox News Latino. The 25-year-old star feared that if the two sides refused to make concessions in their stance, the league will be set to lose some more games.
“To tell you the truth that's something we more or less saw coming because since we both were so far from an agreement, I imagined that happening. I think that way everything is looking right now; I think more weeks will be cancelled because both sides are not seeing eye-to-eye. The players are holding up strong because we think it's the right thing,” Horford said.
Many NBA players have headed overseas to continue playing during the lockout, but Atlanta’s All-Star said he plans to stay home at the moment and is keeping himself in shape with casual drills. However, he was quick to mention that if a reasonable offer comes his way, he will be quick to oblige.
“To tell you the truth I think everything is possible at this point. I'm not really looking for that but I won't rule it out. Right now I'm keeping myself in shape and practicing.”
Horford was also critical of the rumours that the players will decertify the National Basketball Players Association if the matter lingers on. The National Football League (NFL) did the same and were able to end the lockout, however Horford believes that the situation in that case was completely different.
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