New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony frustrated with the NBA Lockout - NBA News
The NBA lockout is deep into its fourth month and the situation has left New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony very unhappy.
However, he is not the only one frustrated. This lockout has also been a painful dilemma for the millions of NBA fans all across the globe. Apparently Carmelo understands the fans ordeal;
“It is very tough, not being able to play for our fans, and I understand their frustration. They are angry and this is not something we want to do, we want to play but we want a fair deal as well. I hope we can come to a resolution
soon.” Anthony said.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have been at loggerheads with each for over a year now in an attempt to churn out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The old one expired on July 1 this year
and the league has been in a lockout since then.
For Carmelo, the exasperation increased to the highest degree earlier this month, when the league commissioner, David Stern, announced the cancelation of the first two weeks of the regular season games. With it, Carmelo and the
Knicks also lost out on the chance to take on the Miami Heat in the season opener. A win in that Eastern Conference duel would have given New York just the boost they needed as they look to assert themselves as the championship contender next season;
“It hurt when Commissioner Stern cancelled the first two weeks, and basketball not on Christmas is gonna be even worse. We dreamed about the atmosphere on Opening Night against the Heat, and now it’s gone.” Carmelo Anthony said.
The commissioner has also threatened that more games can be cancelled if no resolution is achieved by Tuesday, October 18. The two sides will meet on the said date in the presence of Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service (FMCS), George Cohen.
The NBA owners and the players union are however far apart on almost all the issues and even with Cohen’s excellent mediating reputation, a solution on Tuesday seems improbable.
However, even in this uncertain situation, Carmelo Anthony said that he is not looking at an overseas venture at the moment. However, he was quick to add that if the NBA lockout extends to the next year, he will be the first person
to exit.
“I hope it doesn’t get to that point, and I have not heard any details, but if it happened I would be first in line to play.”
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