Union Shows Solidarity
The head of the National Basketball Players Assn. met with a group of player agents, sending a message of solidarity to the league if it reopens the collective bargaining agreement.
The show of unity is in sharp contrast to 1995, when several star players represented by agent David Falk tried to decertify the union and derail the current agreement. At the time, Falk blamed the attempt on the union’s poor communication.
Neither the union nor the agents were specific about what was discussed in Friday’s meeting, although union Executive Director Billy Hunter said it should show the NBA that the union is no longer divided.
“The league has to take notice of that,” Hunter said after a three-hour meeting with 11 agents. “I think they will.”
NBA Commissioner David Stern, citing skyrocketing salaries, said last month that he’s considering reopening the contract that took effect after the 1995-96 season and runs through the 2000-01 campaign.
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Former NBA referee George Toliver was fined more than $30,000, but got no jail time for filing a false federal income tax return in an airline ticket scam.
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