NEW YORK (AP) — With a number of NBA All-Stars standing behind him, union president Derek Fisher said Thursday that players won’t accept a bad deal to avoid a work stoppage.
The Lakers guard says fellow players don’t want to be locked out but are “unified in the sense of not being afraid” of the possibility.
Player representatives from each team were in town for their summer meetings and were updated on the state of negotiations with owners. The collective bargaining agreement expires June 30, and the sides remain far apart headed into another session Friday.
Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin were among the 60 players who joined Fisher at the front of the news conference. Garnett says owners want “control.”