New York, NY – Representatives of NBA owners and players met Thursday for nearly 5 1/2 hours in their effort to make inroads on labor negotiations, but with training camps fast approaching the league calendar could be altered in the coming days.
Commissioner David Stern didn't say if training camps, which are due to open Oct. 3 would be delayed. Preseason contests are scheduled to start Oct. 9.
"The calendar is obviously not our friend, but we're not going to give up on the process because of the time," union president Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers said.
Yahoo! Sports reported that Stern would cancel the first two weeks of training camp and exhibition games in October after a phone call with team owners on Friday.
"My demeanor is flat because I don't have anything to say," Stern said following Thursday's meeting. "We're getting on fine as a personal matter. We're each saying and believe we're doing the best for our clients and we're trying to make a fair deal. But both sides have work to do."
The regular season is scheduled to open November 1.
"We'll get back at it next week, hopefully earlier in the week, with respect to personal calendars, etc.," Fisher said. "Right now there isn't anything to report or say. We'll keep working until we find some solutions."
The NBA locked out its players on July 1 after the most recent labor deal between the two sides expired. Unlike the labor strife that caused NFL lockout, which long appeared to be solvable, the problems facing the NBA have led observers to warn about a prolonged dispute like the one that canceled the 2004-05 NHL season.
"We're trying to figure out ways to come together," Fisher added. "It didn't happen today. Hopefully we'll get another opportunity next week to continue to try and figure this thing out. We're committed to this process, we're committed to our players."
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