Paul Pierce says NBA owners proposed an unfair deal in the labour dispute – NBA Update
Boston Celtics super star Paul Pierce has weighed in on the NBA labour dispute and backed the National Basketball Players Association to reject the ultimatum by NBA Commissioner David Stern. The Celtics forward spoke to reporters
after appearing in a charity game at Boston organized by teammate Rajon Rondo.
The NBA owners offered players a take it or leave it deal which was rejected by the players union last Monday, November 14. The deal called for huge cuts from the players while their demands on the salary cap issue were not accommodated
as well. Furthermore, NBA Commissioner David Stern told players that he would not be negotiating with them any further.
The players therefore rejected such bullying tactics by Stern and the owners, saying “No” to the deal on offer and suing the owners in two federal courts.
Pierce, who is a veteran leader among the players, has categorically stated that the deal on offer was not a fair one.
"We don't feel like it's a fair deal. If we did we would have started (playing). Maybe some players do and some players don't, but as a majority we don't feel like it's the right deal.” Pierce said. The NBPA unanimously rejected
Stern’s proposal at a meeting on Monday.
Pierce though admitted he was surprised by the sudden turn of events.
"I wasn't at the last couple of meetings. That last time when they broke up the union kind of took me by surprise. ...”
The 2008 NBA Finals MVP went on to state that the senior player in the league, such as himself, stood to lose more because of the lockout than the others. However, he was of the opinion that they were morally obliged to make the
sacrifice for the greater good of current and future players.
“I'm kind of a different player in this. A lot of older guys are different players in this. It would be easy for the older guys to say, 'Take the deal -- we already have contracts and a few years to finish out.' But, you know,
this is bigger than us. It's about the future of the league.”
There are a number of senior stars in the NBA, such as Pierce and Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, who stand to lose around $20 million if the NBA season is wiped out entirely. These players though have taken the
lead in arguing for a fairer deal from the NBA and have shown a willingness to forego financial punishments as a result.
NBA owners on the other hand have two separate groups, those who own large market teams and those who own small market teams, and both are looking out for their own interests.
Tags: