Just announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern, the league has canceled the first two weeks of the regular season after it could not reach an agreement with the NBA Players Association. The two sides had been negotiating throughout the weekend but according to CNBC’s Darren Rovell, are still far apart.
This marks the second time the NBA has canceled regular season games. Back in 1998-99, the NBA lost half of its season due to a lockout that lasted into January.
Stern is threatening to cut more games the longer the impasse between the league and the players union continues.
The league has issued the following statement:
“Like all NBA fans, we’re disappointed the season will not start on time. We remain hopeful this will get resolved quickly.”
Players Association President Derek Fisher says:
“I continue to believe that we’ve been more than fair and reasonable in our approach.
“We’ve been more than fair and reasonable. To be here at this point is disappointing, but this is what we anticipated.
“This is not just about dollars and cents for players. It’s about a system for our guys to operate under.”
The cancellation particularly effects league TV partners ESPN, NBA TV and TNT as all three had previously announced their schedules.
Here are the nationally televised games that have been lost thus far.
GAMES LOST TO THE LOCKOUT
ESPN
| Wed, Nov 2 | 8 p.m. | Miami at New York* |
| 10:30 p.m. | L.A. Lakers at Golden State* | |
| Fri, Nov 4 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Atlanta |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland at L.A. Clippers | |
| Wed, Nov 9 | 8 p.m. | Houston at Philadelphia |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio at L.A. Lakers* | |
| Fri, Nov 11 | 10:30 p.m. | Denver at L.A. Lakers |
NBA TV
| Nov. 5 | Saturday | 8:30 PM | Oklahoma City @ Dallas Mavericks |
| Nov. 6 | Sunday | 8:00 PM | Portland Trail Blazers @ Phoenix Suns |
| Nov. 7 | Monday | 9:00 PM | Cleveland Cavaliers @ Denver Nuggets |
| Nov. 8 | Tuesday | TBD | Fan Night |
| Nov. 11 | Friday | 7:00 PM | Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers |
TNT
| Nov. 1 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | TNT NBA Tip-Off ‘11 | |
| 8 p.m. | Chicago Bulls @ Dallas Mavericks | |||
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder @ L.A. Lakers | |||
| Nov. 3 | Thursday | 8 p.m. | Orlando Magic @ Miami Heat | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers | |||
| Nov. 10 | Thursday | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder @ Chicago Bulls | |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers | |||
We’ll hear more on Tuesday and I’ll link to the stories as they come in.
