NBA, Union Talking
New York, NY – The NBA and its players’ association have held their first collective bargaining talks, meeting for 3 1/2 hours without exchanging any proposals.
The sides shared financial information and called the session Tuesday “cordial and productive.” They added they looked forward to sitting down again before the start of the season.
The current collective bargaining agreement runs through the 2011 season – the league has an option to extend it a year – but owners and players decided on an early start to discussions with many teams struggling because of the economic crisis.
No deal is expected anytime soon. NBA commissioner David Stern has said the central issue will be the split in revenues, with the players currently collecting 57 percent.
Posted: 8/5/09 9:15PM ET