NBPA VP Roger Mason says James Dolan is one of the few owners who wants an end to the NBA Lockout
The NBA lockout is on the verge of completing its fourth month and the party which has been blamed the most for the lockout has so far been the NBA owners.
Billy Hunter, the executive director of National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has been very vocal in his criticism of the NBA owners ever since the talks between the two sides under the supervision of the federal mediator
George Cohen broke down last Thursday.
However, the vice president of the national basketball players association (NBPA), Roger Mason has revealed that he knows one owner who wanted the labour dispute to be resolved in the latest rounds of meetings.
Roger Mason stated that while most of the owners don’t want a deal until they get what they have set out for in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the New York Knicks owner James Dolan is among very few people who are
ready to resume business.
"Definitely. You feel excitement in the city. I know Dolan sees that, hears that. He's definitely one of the owners who's ready to get back to work. There are a committee of owners, and their voice is going to be as one. But you
know [Dolan] has put a lot into renovating the Garden and put a lot into the team. He had a lot of tough years and there's a lot of promise now. He wants to get back out there." Roger Mason said.
The previous Collective Bargaining Agreement expired on 1st of July and the NBA has locked its players ever since. Since then, a number of negotiations have taken place to reach a common ground however the absence of
the progress has been the only thing common every time.
Initially, NBA owners were obstinate to give only 46 percent share of the Basketball Related Income (BRI) in the new CBA. The players were receiving 57 percent before and naturally rejected the proposal. However they did agree
to cut down their share by 4 percent.
Last week, the NBA owners also showed some flexibility in the Basketball Related Income and proposed a 50-50 split. However, the player refused to budge from their stance and the result was a standstill yet again.
While talking with ‘The Post’, Mason added that most of the NBA owners want to take the maximum advantage in the new CBA and they are willing to risk the season for that;
"You can look at it and say the majority of owners don't want a deal," Mason said.
David Stern, the NBA commissioner, has already cancelled the first two weeks on the next NBA season and there have been reports originating from New York, indicating a further two week cancellation.
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