"I think that our players are very smart and successful and they have hired what seems to be a smart and successful litigator," Stern said. "Our owners are smart and successful and have got Adam Silver, an accomplished litigator, too. And I have no doubt that they're going to work it out." Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Former NBA commissioner David Stern is hushing the alarm over a potential work stoppage in 2017, when players are expected to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement and seek a larger slice of expanding TV-earnings pie going to owners.
Stern said late Wednesday in Charlotte that player posturing, including ominous comments from LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, is to be expected and is part of looming negotiations.
“There’s too much at stake now,” Stern told CBS.
Either side can void the CBA on July 1, 2017. At issue entering the labor talks are potentially eliminating maximum-level contracts and divvying up the funds flowiing in from new media deals with ESPN and Turner Sports. Union executive director Michele Roberts and James made comments last month that the players will not accept owners pushing the idea that they are losing money after the Los Angeles Clippers sold for $2 billion and a similar valuation was floated for the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks.
“I think that our players are very smart and successful and they have hired what seems to be a smart and successful litigator,” Stern said. “Our owners are smart and successful and have got Adam Silver, an accomplished litigator, too. And I have no doubt that they’re going to work it out.”
