Ex NBA player Jerry Stackhouse doesn’t have confidence in NBPA president Derek Fisher
NBA veteran Jerry Stackhouse has said that he doesn’t want the Derek Fisher to head labour negotiations with the owners. Fisher is the President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and alongside Billy Hunter,
who is the executive director, has been the representative of the players in the ongoing NBA labour dispute.
Stackhouse, who last played for the Miami Heat and currently works as a TV analyst, said he doesn’t have a problem with Fisher on a personal level.
“Not to say anything against Derek Fisher, it’s not that I don’t think he’s a great guy,” he said.
But Jerry pointed out the fact that Fisher was also a player, and he didn’t believe that a player should be handling negotiations of this magnitude. Stackhouse believes that these matters should be left for the agents, and eluded
to the fact that Derek himself had his contracts negotiated through an agent.
He therefore surmised that players shouldn’t be handling the negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement at all.
“Players are emotional. Players get emotional. So no, I don’t necessarily, particularly want Derek Fisher or any of the executive committee negotiating a contract for me.” He opined.
Stackhouse was also wary of NBA Commissioner David Stern, whom he considered a master at his craft. The former Washington Wizards star said that Stern knew how to handle these matters and was capable of working certain elements
to his own advantage. Whereas Fisher, or any other player for that matter, didn’t have the knowhow required.
“David Stern, he’s made this league what it is,” Stackhouse said. “He’s one of the greatest commissioners in sports. He’s got that title, he’s got the NBA at the place where it is because he’s a shrewd businessman and knows how
to work his way, play the media, play things up to get what he wants. We don’t do that.”
Jerry’s comments came at a time of increased turmoil within the NBPA. Some sources have already suggested that many players could consider taking the 50-50 Basketball Related Income split that the owners are offering.
Billy Hunter though walked out of the talks when Stern stuck to the 50-50 line and talks have been suspended since. None planned ahead either. Games for the whole month of November were also cancelled on Friday.
Fisher alone has come under increased scrutiny over the last 48 hours or so. He has been accused in certain quarters of not towing the NBPA line and even negotiating separately with David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver.
Fisher moved quickly to dispel those rumours though and Hunter also reposted his faith in the Los Angeles Lakers guard on Tuesday.
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