Kendrick Perkins says ‘pride’ proving to be the biggest stumbling block in getting the NBA deal done
Oklahoma City Thunder star Kendrick Perkins has said that pride is proving to be a big stumbling block for NBA owners and players to get an NBA labour deal done.
With both sides not willing to back down from their respective position, the NBA lockout is set to wipe out a complete season.
Perkins played for the Boston Celtics at the start of last season before making a move Oklahoma City. The dominant centre settled in seamlessly with his new team and helped the side make an appearance at the Western Conference
Finals. He was looking forward to continuing the moment with Oklahoma City Thunder and going on to achieve bigger and better results, but the NBA lockout has thrown it all into limbo.
"I thought the season was going to start but it hasn't yet," Perkins said with a frown. "So I'm just going to continue to work and whenever the season starts I'll just try to go from there.”
His disappointment is shared by all NBA fans and players, but at the moment it is the owners who can make things happen. They though, led by NBA Commissioner David Stern, seem h**l bent on achieving their goal of guaranteed profits
no matter the consequences.
It is the ruthless and unrealistic approach by NBA owners to the labour negotiations that has now drawn a response from the players. They too have now decided to stand their ground, hurt by the indifference shown to them by Stern
during the negotiations.
With pride on both sides now playing a role, Perkins believes they need to cool down and get back to being more objective about reaching a deal for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"I think right now if everybody puts their pride aside we can get a deal done. I think both sides are being really prideful, but if both sides can drop their pride and come in with an open mind and an open heart, I think we can
get a deal."
There are some players who are prepared to do it, some who would have taken the deal NBA presented to the players union, but others who don’t approve of it.
“Every guy feels different, in my eyes.” Perkins reflected.
He was though sure that the most important thing for NBA players was to stay united, otherwise the owners would just pick them off.
“But I think the biggest thing for the players now is that we all stick together, because we know the owners will do the same.”
Perkins hoped that a resolution for to the dispute can be reached soon and he can get back to chasing the NBA World Championship at his new home; Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tags: