Boston Celtics superstar Paul Pierce doesn’t want NBA labour dispute resolved in court
Boston Celtics small forward and one cog of the Big Three, Paul Pierce, has said that he doesn’t want the NBA labour dispute spilling into a legal battle played out in a federal court.
The Celtics captain was speaking after appearing in a charity game organized by fellow Celtic Rajon Rondo.
The NBA labour dispute is currently threatening the entire 2011-2012 season. The NBA owners and players have so far failed to formulate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement as we head into the 147th day of the lockout.
With NBA Commissioner David Stern issuing the players an ultimatum recently, the dispute turned even sourer.
The National Basketball Players Association held a meeting on November 14, rejecting the last ditch proposal by the NBA. They also decided to disband the union and subsequently several players filed class action anti-trust lawsuits
against the owners in two separate federal courts.
Pierce though maintains that it’s not his preference for the matter to head towards a judge.
"I really don't want it to go to court," Pierce said, "but that's a real possibility right now."
His wish could still be granted if the owners see reason and come back to the negotiating table. They have refused to do so this far though and Stern had warned that their proposal would only get worse if players did not accept
the ultimatum.
Pierce though was confident that it wasn’t in the interests of owners to wipe out the entire 2011-2012 season and expressed hope that both sides could a will to work together and resolve outstanding issues.
"I think both sides want to play," said Pierce. "I think both sides are equally losing. I believe (the owners) want us to be on the court and we want to be on the court."
He also expressed a fear that he, alongside veteran teammates Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, have only a short time left in the game and it could be cut even shorter because of the lockout.
"We're not getting any younger," Pierce said, "and KG and Ray are in the last (year) of their deal.
"I just want to play. I don't have too many years left. I think that's the most important thing."
With the lockout heading towards a dark place, a number of NBA stars have been flirting with teams from outside the United States. Some have even already made the switch and Pierce, whose first priority is playing competitive basketball,
admits that his head could be turned as well.
"I've been thinking about it," Pierce said. "I love the game of basketball. It definitely crossed my mind. I may think more about it in December if it looks like we're not playing."
The former NBA Finals MVP is already 34 years old and it wouldn’t make sense for him to waste another year sitting around. Therefore Europe could be a possible destination for the forward.
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