NEW YORK (AP) — Citing the NFL’s labor problems, NBA Commissioner David Stern says his league is eager to intensify talks with its union.
Stern called football’s labor situation a “mess” and said it was worsened by a lack of urgency to get a deal done before the collective bargaining agreement expired, something he wants to avoid as the NBA tries to negotiate a new deal with its players.
The league soon hopes to send the union a revised proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement, hoping it will trigger meaningful negotiations ahead of the June 30 expiration date.
But Stern made it clear in his meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors on Thursday that he will lock the players out if a deal can’t be reached to give owners the financial relief they seek.
