NBPA President Derek Fisher fires a salvo at NBA owners; Says players
drive the business
After the NBA labour meeting on Tuesday ended in a stalemate, costing the pre-season to the league and also putting in danger the start of the season, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has hit out at the owners. National
Basketball Players Association President Derek Fisher targeted the owners by saying it was the players who drew the crowds in the NBA, and they should therefore be fairly compensated.
"For us, to be clear, we throw out a lot of numbers, we talk about a lot of percentages," Fisher said. “The reality is, we believe that we're the most significant and most important asset to this particular business.”
"And with the level of revenue that will continue to be generated as this business grows, that there's just a fair place that the compensation should start for this particular group. We're not saying it should be all ours. We're
not saying we're the only thing that matters. But there's just a fair place that that should be for the talent and the skill that drive the business."
Fisher’s comments came after a 4 hour NBA lockout session ended in disarray as owners and players clashed again over the BRI. The Basketball Related Income was split 57 – 43 in favour of the players under the previous CBA and the
owners want the equation to now read 47 – 53. That has never been acceptable to the players’ union and on Tuesday they allegedly also rejected a 50 – 50 offer from the league.
NBA Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver complained to the media after the meeting about the rejection of the 50/50 proposal, but the players have been beating the drum to a very different tune.
Fisher, who plays as point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, advocated that the players were entitled to a larger share because they were the heart and soul of the NBA. It was the skill, talent, performances and likeability of
the NBA players that was the principle driving force behind record growth, so it was only natural to demand a fair share in return.
NBA players have long held this view and made their voices heard at different intervals. The fact is that the players indeed are the main draw for the NBA, because it is a basketball league. It is the players who play basketball
out on the court and it is the basketball that the fans come in to watch.
The tough stance taken by the players, who have conceded a lot of ground since the negotiations began, could also have something to do with a recent letter by player agents. Six of the most powerful NBA player agents issued a letter
to their clients recently, asking them to take their time over a new CBA deal and not bow down to any pressure from the NBA.
Tags: