NBA Players, Owners Reach Deal, Lockout Over

It was announced early Saturday morning that the NBA players and owners have reached a tentative deal, ending the NBA lockout at 149 days. NBA Commissioner David Stern said that the deal requires “a variety of approvals and very complex machinations, but we’re optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin Dec. 25.”

Here is what the deal means for the 2011-12 NBA season:

  • Training camp and free agency begin on December 9
  • 66 game regular season
  • The season will begin with the scheduled Christmas Day Triple Header
One major deal point that held up a deal was the Basketball Related Income. Under the new deal, players will receive at least 49% of BRI, but no more than 51%. Under the previous collective bargaining agreement players were receiving 57%.
In order to pass the deal, 15 of 29 owners need to approve the deal (the New Orleans Hornets are owned by the NBA) and the NBA Players Association needs a simple majority of from its 430 members. The NBAPA vote is a bit more complicated as the union disbanded on November 14 after talked between players and owners dissolved on November 12.
This is the second lockout in NBA history that has resulted in a work stoppage. The last was in 1998-99. That lockout resulted in a 50 game season.

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