nba nba history national_basketball_association nba lasted july january forced regular season shortened games team season star game canceled nba owners reopened league collective agreement march seeking changes league salary cap system ceiling individual player salaries opposed owners plans wanted raises players earned league minimum salary sides failed reach agreement owners began dispute received response sports fans provoked criticism media members continued january threatening cancellation entire season division players union executive director reached agreement nba commissioner january end work quickly ratified owners players deal signed later january ending days settlement provided maximum salaries players pay scale year players months television ratings ticket sales declined game season remained pre levels subsequent seasons background previous years labor dispute lasted months brief work ended hours occasions players owners reached deal start season nba major sports league united_states lost game work year place september included clause allowing nba owners reopen contract years percent basketball related income went player salaries season percent basketball related income pay players previous deal called percent split according nba teams posted losses season disputed figure claimed teams losses league owners voted reopen march vote passed margin negotiations owners started april sessions took place months primary issue player salaries owners sought curb salary cap included allowed teams exceed payroll limit larry bird exception named player early rule bird exception enabled teams spend unlimited money sign players causing substantial increase value upper end contracts club owners wanted remove exemption place limits maximum player salaries owners desired modified pay scale rookie players prevent gaining free agency seasons wanted ban use marijuana performance enhancing drugs players union wanting avoid decline salaries opposed changes salary cap system particular involving larry bird exception positions included opposition cap individual player salaries support raise minimum salary percent nba players earned negotiations sides broke june started days later teams barred making player transactions holding meetings duration work labor described nba action offensive employer attempts force workers settlement favor early exclusion nba players national team played world championship usa basketball governing body sport elected send team consisting lower level professional players negotiations resumed august session start nba commissioner owners left talks presented offer included increased revenue sharing teams september exhibition games canceled training camps postponed indefinitely result stalled talks negotiating sessions took place october november agreement reached season weeks officially canceled october games scheduled november lost result time nba history games canceled labor dispute october ruled owners pay players guaranteed contracts decision gave owners leverage talks factor favoring owners teams received money nba television broadcasters contracts league called payments games played games canceled continued november december including star game scheduled played february philadelphia result cancellation nba later awarded star game philadelphia discussions characterized frequent hostility players owners example heated nature talks came early december session stern executive director involved called extremely heated laden screaming match men temporarily walked away table indicated session entire season canceled portion schedule played nba players participated december exhibition game new_jersey event organizers intended members share money raised idea proved controversial charities ultimately received proceeds settlement december stern announced recommend season deal january december meeting final deal proposed owners sides met january gave proposal owners turned stern discussed possibility having replacement players brought begin following season stern deadline approached showed signs division highly paid players seen ones affected disputed issues union membership agent considered influential voice players represented president players union person negotiating committee scheduled meeting new_york_city january players vote proposal owners committee recommended opposing players including wanted vote conducted secret ballot indicated desire return competition regardless vote went stated players ready throw fight wednesday meeting agreement hadn reached faced union hunter moved resume talks stern january day stern deadline hunter reached agreement ratified later day january widely viewed victory stern owners agreement signed parties january officially ending days capped players salaries million million depending long played nba league major sports organization limit salaries players rookie pay scale introduced salary increases tied early player selected nba draft exception retained maximum annual pay raises capped new average median salary cap proposed allowed teams sign player category spending limit teams wished exceed salary cap luxury tax instituted requiring offenders pay dollar dollar basis provided total league salaries specified level league minimum salary increased raise players promised salaries equal percent league revenues agreement final seasons higher percentage lead salary decrease nba drug policy expanded cover performance enhancing drugs marijuana yearly testing reaction aftermath prompted indifference american sports fans thought greed shown sides similar sentiment fans voiced strike new_york_times poll conducted october showed fans opinion professional basketball unaffected work percent reported views negative poll showed fans backed dispute margin general public supported owners percent percent quarter basketball fans responded poll stated know opinion percent general public media members frequently critical owners players sportswriter described labor dispute tall short article newsweek termed dispute rival gangs time believed damaged terms financial losses negative publicity stern said concessions agreement hunter said parties broader labor perspective commented pedestrian noteworthy contributions legal doctrine considered union power greater ability enter labor dispute labor organizations believed hold weaker positions comparatively addition noted contrast existed work activities regular workers nba players perceived typical employees nba strengthened view unions touch lives little offer season began february shortened games team opposed normal result day regular season games lost addition nba popularity affected second retirement largely responsible increase fan interest career average attendance shortened season fans game percent average spectators contest ticket sales fell nearly percent opening months remained game following seasons league saw television ratings drop consecutive seasons years following higher percentage players signed contracts worth maximum possible cap young players began signing shorter contracts allowed flexibility team choice salary agreement expired sides concerned possibility work prevented year reached june occurred fourth league history lasted months sides came agreement team schedule nba season cut games
1998–99 NBA lockout