NBA Labor Meetings Go On for Fifteen Hours

Though the two sides were not expected to meet for quite some time following an explosive end to meetings last Thursday, the NBA and its Players Union met Wednesday into the wee hours of Thursday morning in an attempt to finally put an end to the NBA lockout.

Unfortunately, the gap between the two sides is still so wide that any progress is not yet viewed as significant, but representatives from both sides emerged past 3:30 AM Thursday morning giving off positive vibes.

Though Commissioner David Stern seemed a bit subdued (rather than upbeat), his manner could be attributed to the time of morning. The fact of the matter is that whenever the two sides come out of these meetings not in an enraged state, they have to be making some sort of progress.

Both sides agreed the meeting was more productive than last week's battle.

There was certainly optimism in the air, as talk of a 82 game season was evident, although it is perhaps not as likely. There is a commitment to work towards an agreement in an an attempt to get in as many games as possible, but as Stern noted, the need for an abbreviated "offseason," training camps, and preseason games, makes a full season a difficult feat at this point. He also cited regaining arena dates and arranging travel schedules accordingly as an obstacle.

The slight dismissal of a full season seemed like a rational comment, rather than some sort of threat. The two sides seem dedicated to at least working further towards a middle ground, as the calendar is clearly not on their side right now.

Reps from both sides had a mutual agreement not to address specifics at this point, but they did note that the topic of much conversation was system issues, rather than the previously disputed BRI split.

Meetings will reconvene today at 2PM EST.

NBA Legend Chris Mullin Reminisces About Playing With His Own "Big Three"

It’s officially that time of year where NBA fans normally settle in for a long season.

By this time next week, teams are usually beginning their regular season, with many setting out to prove they’ve made improvements over the offseason and are ready to make a run at a NBA championship once again.

But this time, there’s been no training camp, no preseason, and no start to the season is in clear sight, all due to the NBA lockout.

For the fans that have already begun to feel withdrawal, "Steiner Sports" has had them covered, holding meet/greet and autograph sessions with NBA legends at its Long Island location over the last week.

After hosting Magic Johnson and Bernard King, the best place for sports memorabilia welcomed Brooklyn’s own, recent Hall of Fame inductee Chris Mullin, this past Saturday.

The last couple months have been a whirlwind for the former NBA star and original “Dream Team” member, who returned home last week to be celebrated by his ala mater, St. John’s University, and of course, the local fans, who followed his tremendous career so closely. Those same dedicated fans showed up to greet Mullin with memorabilia ranging from old college jerseys, “Dream Team” posters, and long kept newspaper clippings.

Though Mullin said he chose to enter the Hall of Fame as a Golden State Warrior and a member of the St. John’s Red Storm (the Hall of Fame lets inductees select two logos to represent their legacies), many Knicks fans will remember him as a member of those fierce Indiana Pacers’ squads that competitively fought (and often beat) the Knicks in the 1990’s.

Most recent Knicks President, Donnie Walsh, was at the helm of those great Pacers’ teams, and in fact brought the longtime Warrior to Indiana.

Mullin, who maintains a strong relationship with Walsh, called him a “miracle worker” for the job he did rebuilding the Knicks.

Even so, the Brooklyn native wasn’t entirely convinced the combination of Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony was simply enough to take the Knicks to the next level.

Mullin noted, “I think you have to take a look at that a little longer, you know? Both players like to play with the ball. You need to get somebody who can take the ball out of their hands in order to play more like a cohesive unit, as opposed to the two of them just taking turns. Maybe it comes down to putting Stoudemire in the game one quarter where he has the ball, and then Anthony’s got it the next time. There has to be a way where they are actually functioning together.”

With two players who dominate the ball as much as STAT and ‘Melo, Mullin appears on point when suggesting there needs to be more fluidity in the Knicks’ offensive game plan.

During the first half of the season, the team’s run and gun offense, headed by Raymond Felton, seemed as though it was coming together, thriving under Coach Mike D’Antoni. The team was building chemistry when the trade for Carmelo Anthony shook things up.

Afterwards, the offense appeared stagnant with Chauncey Billups at the helm, but as Mullin noted, the ball isn’t moving if it is always in the hands of one of two players.

Though they only played together for three seasons, “Run-TMC” (consisting of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Mullin) injected life into a rebuilding Warriors squad in the early ‘90s.

Mullin said being able to work together and complement one another was what made the three so good, insisting, “The most important thing was we had very different skills. Tim was obviously very dynamic with the basketball. He had the speed to break guys down. Mitch was a good post player who could play well in the open floor. He was good with the ball too. I kind of worked off the guys; I was a good complement around them.”

“But ultimately,” Mullin said, “all three of us had very different talents. We had one guy who could work with the ball in Tim, and Mitch and I were able to play without it. That’s important, because if you simply have guys that can only play with the ball, it’s hard to incorporate that as a team.”

Though Mullin played on a “Big Three” of his own, he did it in one of the NBA’s smaller markets, and addressed the desire of stars to move into big markets like New York, asserting, “I don’t have a problem with it, as long as the migration is for basketball. The guys I watched, like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, always kept basketball as their main priority. If that’s the reason you move, to get into the best situation basketball-wise, I’m all for it. If you migrate for reality TV or some other aspirations, I kind of question that, because ultimately, I think it takes away from your performance.”

With that said, looking back at his own team’s past success, Mullin did agreed that the Knicks need a playmaker if they want to become serious contenders.

“Yes,” said Mullin. “They need a guy who can distribute the ball, line things up, and balance that attack.”

There’s been talk of Coach D’Antoni sort of molding and utilizing Anthony into somewhat of a point forward, but it’s no secret that New York City craves for a point guard, with Chris Paul’s name coming up in countless conversations.

Mullin should know exactly how playing with an elite point guard can elevate one’s game on the court. He had the benefit of not only playing with one in Hardaway, but another in his good friend Mark Jackson, who teamed up with him not only in college at St. John’s, but on the Pacers as well.

What does Mullin think, now that his good friend is the head coach of the Warriors, the team with whom Mullin built his legacy?

“I think Mark is going to do a great job, “ Mullin added. “He’s got great leadership qualities and I know he has the respect of the players. He’s got such great knowledge, and will be so well prepared, but ultimately it’s going to be about how the talent meshes together.”

“They’ve got some good young players, which can be a good thing. I do think expectations need to be managed a bit, at least for the first year. The team has some things they need to figure out roster wise. Young talent is a good thing to have, but it’s not always the right formula for big time winning in the NBA. With that said, I think Mark is going to get more out of that team than anyone else would.”

It’s no surprise that Mullin has his own constructive thoughts about the state of the Warriors, perhaps knowing them in and out better than anyone. Aside from being one of the best players in team history, Mullin also served as Vice President of Basketball Operations after he retired, from 2004 to 2009.

He is credited with assembling the “We Believe” Warriors, who in 2007 defeated the first-seeded Mavericks in the playoffs as an eighth seed. The upset was one of the most triumphant in NBA history.

During the lockout, players are coming together to organize different charity exhibitions for the fans, but perhaps the most unique of all is coming to the Bay Area. Members of the “We Believe” squad will be coming together one more time to take on members of the current Warriors.

Asked which side he thought would prevail, Mullin showed pride in his creation, adding, “My question is which of those are actually showing up, but based on pure talent, the team from the 2007 playoffs would get it done, there’s no question. If you laid that roster out—guys like Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington—they all have years of playoff experience. Not much of a question for me!”

While fans attend these charity games, how is Mullin getting his own hoops fix during the lockout?

For starters, he took his talents to Broadway, working with the cast of the upcoming play, “Lysistrada Jones.”

“It’s going to be debuting December 14^th Off-Broadway,” he said. “A good friend of mine is producing it, so that’s how I got involved. It’s going to be a great show. The backdrop is a basketball theme, so my role was to work with the cast to do some fundamental work to get the basketball parts looking real authentic. It was a great experience, and I’ll be there opening night!”

Mullin can be seen next on NBATV as he and his two “Run-TMC” teammates sit down to reminisce with Ahmad Rashad for a Q&A to premiere Tuesday, October 25^th at 5:30PM EST.

Brooklyn Native and NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin Comes to Steiner Sports

The NBA lockout has certainly left fans with a feeling of emptiness, a void that can only be fed by some sort of hoops fix.

Besides the occasional local charity game, fans have been left without an opportunity to see some of the best players in the game today hit the hardwood.

And with that void comes the nostalgic feeling for fans of watching their favorite players play over the years. With NBA basketball in doubt for the remainder of 2011, the game's loyal fans are only treated to airings of Michael J. Fox's Teen Wolf and classic games on NBATV.

That being said, some of the game's more classic contests are clearly some of its best, giving fans an opportunity to celebrate some of the NBA's most legendary players.

Lucky for them, "Steiner Sports" is also taking advantage of the opportunity, bringing select legends to its stores to meet and greet their loyal supporters over the years.

The authentic memorabilia store has welcomed Magic Johnson and Brooklyn's own Bernard King its Roosevelt Field Mall store on Long Island over the last week, providing fans with the thrill they've been seeking during the lockout.

Today another Brooklyn native comes home to New York to be celebrated once again.

Chris Mullin will be at the mentioned "Steiner Sports" location today, Saturday October 22nd, from 3-4:30pm for what's sure to be a special meet, greet, and autograph session with fans.

Still riding the tremendous momentum from his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August, Mullin came home this week to be further celebrated at his ala matter of St. John's University, and will also have his jersey number retired by the Golden State Warriors, when the lockout is officially lifted.

Truly one of the area's greatest stars, don't miss out on your chance to meet Mullin today!

For more information on how you can attend the event, visit the Steiner Sports website.

In the meantime, as always, make sure you follow Steiner Sports and Knicks Journal on Twitter!

Knicks' Derrick Brown Working Hard to Improve His Game During Lockout

When the Knicks acquired young gun Derrick Brown midway through last season, many were unaware of how good he could be and/or what role he would play on the team.

Known for his athleticism and ability to slash his way to the basket, Brown rode the bench for much of his time with the Knicks, but did get some minutes towards the end of the season while the team rested its stars closer to the playoffs.

During his limited opportunity, Brown excited Knicks fans, powering home some high-powered slams as he flew to the basket. His potential is undoubtedly present.

That said, one skill every player needs to hone while playing for Coach Mike D'Antoni is the ability to shoot a consistent jump shot, and although his time on the court was scarce, Brown did not demonstrate an effective jumper.

He used his time to show he could attack the basket with aggression, which was impressive (and enough for the Knicks to extend a qualify offer to him this summer), but the next step for Brown is developing a steady catch and shoot motion. And that's exactly what's he doing.

During the lockout, Brown is taking advantage of his "free" time, working out with "Accelerate Basketball" in North Carolina. As he says in the clip above, Brown is not only throwing up shots all over the court, but he perhaps more importantly working on sinking jumpers after fatigue begins to set in.

Doing this will not only improve his consistency, but will also make it easier for him pull up for a jumper whether he is running on tired legs or not. Practicing with fatigue will certainly prove to make your jumper even more fluent when you are fresh and ready to go as well.

See below as Brown goes through a shooting drill with former Bobcats teammates Matt Caroll, Gerald Henderson, Warriors' star Stephen Curry, and NBA veteran Antawn Jamison.

New York Knicks Legend Bernard King Talks About Carmelo Anthony and Stardom in NY

In the NBA today, the league is watching as some of its bigger stars look to team up on the same squad for a quest to bring home the championship trophy.

The New York Knicks are certainly among teams with that same hope, pairing together two of the league’s best in Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

Despite the NBA lockout, there is still a lot of optimism surrounding the Knicks as of late. After all, who can remember the last time two true superstars donned orange and blue together?

The truth is that it has in fact happened before, but it may difficult to recall. Former NBA great Bernard King actually spent two seasons on the same Knicks squad as a young Patrick Ewing.

Unfortunately, injuries limited the pair’s time on the court together, and fans have not been treated to such a dynamic duo since.

As fate would have it, the time for greatness again appears to be now for the Knicks. Could STAT and ‘Melo be the second coming of Ewing and King?

Anthony has actually beamed over King time and time again, as he, the fellow Brooklyn native and star small forward, is ‘Melo’s boyhood idol.

With the Knicks on the verge of great success for the first time in years, King spoke to “Knicks Journal” during an appearance at the Steiner Sports store in the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island.

King spoke about the honor of being looked up to by the Knicks’ new resident star, talking about just how far back the two happen to go.

“Carmelo is a wonderful person. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him in the past. I actually did a Nike commercial with ‘Melo at his own request some years ago in Baltimore and we had a chance to talk. When Nike called me and said he wanted to do the commercial with me, I said ‘Absolutely. I enjoy watching him play.’

“Carmelo is a great player. The Knicks organization is very fortunate to have him, and I think fans will begin to enjoy him more and more as the years progress. By the time he arrived in New York, I was aware that I am the player he considers to have modeled his game after, and it’s a tremendous honor given his skill set, talent level, and his ability to dominate the game.”

Just days ago at a press conference, Anthony talked about the skills that made King what he called “one of the league’s few true small forwards.” During his appearance at Steiner Sports, King returned the favor, singing praises for ‘Melo.

“Carmelo truly has all of the skills. He can shoot the three-point shot, he can put the ball on the floor and go to the basket. He runs well and can score the ball in transition too. He’s just a great player who’s very difficult to defend. He draws double-teams which definitely opens up his teammates for easy shots.”

Of course, Anthony’s right hand man, Stoudemire, is the benefactor of many of those passes after ‘Melo draws in defenders. But are STAT and ‘Melo enough of a foundation to take the Knicks to the next level?

With all the rumors of another superstar like Dwight Howard or Chris Paul flocking to the Big Apple, King addressed what he thought could help the team improve, adding “That’s something the front office is going to have to take a look at, but the team has to get a stronger bench support. I’m sure they are going to look to address that.”

Not having the luxury of being able to play with a fellow star as he led the Knicks, it makes sense for King to emphasize and value team play as well as depth.

The Knicks great revisited his playing days as he found himself at the MSG Training Center earlier in the day. He was filming first-person accounts of his back to back 50 point performances, as well as his strong playoff series that same year against the Isiah Thomas-led Pistons, in which he averaged 42 points. They are expected to air on the MSG Network sometime in November.

“Every night created a favorite moment for me,” King said of playing for the Knicks. “Growing up in Brooklyn, and having rooted for the Knicks myself, it was a tremendous honor just to put on the uniform. I took representing that ballclub very seriously. Being named captain during that time was very special to me. “

Looking back at his accomplishments, King added, “When we won games one and three against the Pistons during the 1984 playoffs, that was big. I averaged 42 points in the series, but those two games were particularly huge because my teammates put in a tremendous effort. We were able to push the Celtics to seven games in the next series as well.”

“Certainly, my 60 point game was a special game too, but what left a sour taste in my mouth about that was the fact that we lost! But scoring 60 is not an easy feat, and I thought it was even more special that I had scored 40 points by halftime.”

While he met fans, King greeted each and every one with a wide smile, thanked them for coming, and posed for multiple pictures as he signed autographs. Similar to other Knicks greats such as Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, King has been celebrated with continued support, appreciation and gratitude. As he made an effort to engage in personal conversations with all the fans, King represented his legacy well, setting a golden example for today’s NBA stars.

King proved thankful, saying, “Well I think fans really appreciated my style of play. They obviously recognized the fact that I played the game each and every night with the same level of intensity and passion. I laid it on the line every time I took the court. I think people identify with that because it represents a New York type of effort. Every time I return to the city, the fan base often makes it feel as though I was here yesterday, and that’s always truly appreciated.”

Though NBA legends are certainly even more so appreciated now as fans are left with nothing but nostalgic feelings during the lockout, it’s clear that the stars of New York are admired well after their playing days are over.

Though Carmelo Anthony may note King’s on the court contributions as a means for his own admiration, King is also proving he should be an icon when it comes to transitioning from star into a legend.

NBA Lockout: New York Knicks Star Carmelo Anthony Talks Team and Labor Progress

During the NBA lockout, the league’s star players certainly have more time on their hands to use their fame to help promote various products.

New York Knicks’ resident superstars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony have been no exception, hitting the Big Apple with various media tours.

One of Anthony’s latest ventures has been “PowerGrip,” by MISSION AthleteCare, for which he was instrumental in influencing the finished product.

Anthony had been testing the so-called “liquid-chalk” for nearly six or seven months, he said, giving the company feedback on what he considered to be pros and cons of the product, which is supposed to eliminate sweaty hands on the court or field for athletes.

MISSION executives recognized and praised Anthony’s positive on and off the court activities as to why he was selected to help promote the product. Some of the other top athletes using the product include Mets third-baseman David Wright, NBA star Dwyane Wade, tennis superstar Serena Williams, and soccer great Mia Hamm.

While Anthony helped promote “PowerGrip,” he also hosted a Q&A session during which he talked about a variety of topics, but he first and foremost could not escape talk of the lockout.

With NBA Commissioner David Stern embarking on a bit of his own media tour last week, to convey the league’s position as to where they stand in labor talks, Anthony added, "I don't really think we are getting out message out there, to be honest with you, as players. The owners are definitely doing a great job of getting their message out there. They have David Stern, they have the owners who can go out there and talk. We only have Derek Fisher. At the end of the day we have one person going against the whole NBA, the owners, the commissioner.

“We could all sit here and hold press conferences to give you our points of view as players. Not so much to have all the fans jump on the players’ bandwagon, but to simply help them better understand where we’re all coming from.”

In the meantime, the Knicks star said he would continue to participate in various charity exhibitions, as well as train in different ways. He added that he may look to add some soccer workouts into his training regiment, which has thus far consisted of basketball and boxing.

Looking back at the last time his team was able to hit the hardwood together (when the Knicks fell victim to a sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs), Anthony was asked if watching such a strong defensive team would impact how the Knicks play moving forward.

“At the end of the day, I could answer all kinds of questions about defense,” remarked Anthony. “We just have to do it. It’s about effort and consistency. Boston didn’t become the greatest defensive team overnight. I was playing against them when they were supposedly one of the worst defensive teams, and now they’re the greatest.

“The Knicks have a team that can be great defensively. We have players that can ultimately be great defensive players. I’ll be the one to that charge. I’ll be the one to take that stance and say ‘I’m the leader of this team and I will take this team where it needs to go.’ At the end of the day, we will become a great defensive team.”

When he arrived in New York prior to the trading deadline in February, many questioned whether or not Anthony would mesh well with Stoudemire. How can their different styles of play complement each other? Whose team will the Knicks ultimately be? Who is the leader?

Stoudemire has been the outspoken one since day one, arriving in New York to ultimately rejuvenate the Knicks and bring playoff basketball back to the Big Apple. The renaissance only stands to continue once the lockout ends, and Anthony certainly appears on board to help STAT carry some of the burden.

Adding that the Knicks (perhaps more so than most NBA teams) could have and ultimately will largely benefit from a full training camp with its new members, Anthony lamented that improvement will not all be due to simply giving the team more time, saying, “There are pieces that we can use. I think we’re headed in the right direction. Once this lockout is over with and we get back to playing basketball, I’m sure the front office will do what they have to do to continue to make that happen.”

All this talk of training camps and NBA basketball may be pure optimism at this point, but should the lockout continue for a prolonged period of time, Stoudemire recently said he and other players have toyed with the idea of starting their own league instead.

What does Anthony think about a potential Commissioner STAT?

He went on to say, “Well me knowing Amar’e…I mean you guys know him, I’m sure he’s serious about it. I’m pretty sure it’s an idea at this point.”

Even so, the Brooklyn native continued on to add that starting up a players-only league is an incredibly long process, one that would require many discussions concerning logistics and other concepts.

“But if it happens,” he said, “I’ll be the first one there to play.”

While everyone ponders what’s next as they all experience basketball withdrawal, what would Anthony’s one message to the fans be?

“I feel your pain,” he conceded.

Knicks Fans Can Meet Legend Bernard King at Steiner Sports Location

Somewhere in New York City, there's a young, up and coming baller impressing all as he works hard to improve his game, modeling his skills after Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.

Make no mistake that Anthony, too, modeled his game after a former NBA star as he came up in the ranks as well.

Who might have been his boyhood idol, you ask?

Speaking at a promotional event on Friday, Anthony happened to remark, "I've always looked up to Bernard King. He was my favorite player growing up. King was one of the first true small forwards of the basketball game. He was a guy who could go inside with the basketball, or step outside for a shot. He could just flat out get it done on the court."

As it just so happens, King is a Brooklyn native, as is Anthony. King also donned orange and blue and played for his hometown Knicks from 1982-1987, experiencing some of the best years of his career, including a 32.7 point average in 1984-85. He was truly one of the most explosive scorers ever to step foot on the hardwood at Madison Square Garden on behalf of the home team.

Interested in meeting the legend himself who influenced New York's new resident star so heavily? Here's your chance.

Bernard King will in fact be appearing at the Steiner Sports location at the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, tomorrow night, Monday October 17th, from 6:30-8pm to meet Knicks fans and sign autographs.

For more information on how you can attend the event and meet this beloved Knickerbocker, visit the Steiner Sports website.

In the meantime, as always, make sure you follow Steiner Sports and Knicks Journal on Twitter!

Ronny Turiaf To Play With Tony Parker in France During NBA Lockout?

Though certain American NBA players are hesitant to make the transition to play internationally during the lockout, the switch comes naturally to the league's foreign players who call other countries home and/or have played elsewhere in the past.

Ronny Turiaf (originally from Martinique) the Knicks' French center, will reportedly join good friend and Spurs' guard Tony Parker to play for ASVEL in France.

Parker, who is actually a part-owner and acts as VP of Basketball Operations for ASVEL, recently made his playing debut for the team, committing 7 turnovers by also scoring 21 points and dishing out 6 assists as he led the squad to a narrow first victory.

Turiaf is no stranger to international ball, as he recently teamed up with Parker and others on the French National Team this past summer.

The oft-injured center happened to fracture his left hand during international play, so despite an NBA-out and insured contract, his participation may be concerning for Knicks fans.

At the same time, if Turiaf can stay healthy enough, playing for ASVEL may serve as a very competitive type of rehab leading into any forthcoming NBA training camp.

The fact that he would playing with a point guard of Parker's caliber may also aid Turiaf offensively, so his skills on the other side of the ball may even be featured more so during international play. Staying healthy is seemingly a big "if" for him, but the move appears to be beneficial otherwise.

Even so, the center has bounced back from numerous injuries before, so fans should not be overly concerned. The opportunity proves to be an exciting one for Turiaf given the lockout.

Good luck to Ronny and more on his progress as he begins to play! He is set to join the team on Wednesday.

CBA Agreement Was Closer Than You Think?

After the dust cleared on Monday night, the NBA and its Players Union emerged only to announce that no deal on a new CBA could be reached.

The first two weeks of the NBA were subsequently cancelled, with David Stern saying he did not believe the games would be made up and/or sprinkled back into the schedule at a later time.

It's clear that frustration between the two sides has been mounted for months, with neither seemingly ready to budge. Many believe that with the two sides so far apart, the entire season could be in jeopardy of being lost.

Even with all this doubt, Players Union Chief Billy Hunter appeared on New York's WFAN only to suggest that the two sides were closer on a deal than many may think.

"We thought we could live with the deal we were close to making," Hunter insisted.

"Close" is not a word that has been used in quite some time by either side, so Hunter's statement oozes with optimism, considering all the negativity and suggestions of little to no progress during the meetings thus far.

Though fresh out the gate of Monday's most recent failed meeting, the two sides were not expected to meet for a while, they have agreed to talk with a federal mediator present this coming Tuesday.

Commissioner Stern will also appear on WFAN later today, so it will be interesting to see if he responds to Hunter's comments.

Do NBA Players Deserve a Higher Percentage of BRI?

Negotiations between the NBA and its Players Union continued into Tuesday, with the two sides reaching somewhat of a bitter standstill.

While there are many more system issues to work out, the breaking point at this time appears to be BRI, and the percentage each side stands to receive moving forward.

What does BRI stand for, you wonder? Basketball related income. This marks all of the money the league makes off not only ticket sales, but all of the "extra" stuff too. This includes national TV contracts, concession stand fees, parking fees, advertising, and more.

To their own credit, the two sides have worked diligently in an attempt to close the gap. The league was originally seeking a 61-39 split (61% for the owners, and 39% for the players), but have now come down to a 50-50 split suggestion, one they are adamantly standing by.

The players, who in their own right, are not backing down from a 53-47 (in the players' favor) split suggestion, reportedly feel as though the league is firmly standing by the 50-50 split demand because it believes the players will give in and agree once the beginning of the regular season is cancelled and people start losing paychecks.

Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver has disputed this report, saying that the league views the 50-50 split as more of a "partnership" between the two sides.

The two sides will again come together on Monday, where if an agreement is not reached, the beginning of the season will be forced to be cancelled. Should this happen, the two sides are not expected to meet for a while after that.

This is where things stand at the moment. The question remains, does one side deserve more BRI than the other? The owners of the league, who as noted, began by asking for 61%, are credited, of course, with overseeing all operations (even if from a distance) to efficiently run a basketball team and make sure the franchise experiences success. In essence, the owners put a staff in place to bring the most talented and most appealing players to town.

That being said, isn't it that same mentioned talent who put fans in the seats? Don't the fans buy tickets to games, pay for parking, and once they arrive, purchase food to eat, all so that they can watch the big names of the NBA play basketball?

Isn't it the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant that make television viewers turn on ESPN or ABC while they sit at home to watch the excitement unfold?

It's clear that the players are the ones who draw attention and bring the excitement, but shouldn't the owners and the league itself get credit for creating the big picture and making things happen?

Sure, both sides deserve credit, but the debate as to who deserves more of it (if anyones) goes on. It will be interesting to see if the two sides can come to a mutual agreement, or if the league plans on using the potential loss of games (and player paychecks) as leverage.

Amar'e Stoudemire to Attend NBA Labor Meetings on Tuesday?

Tuesday's labor meetings stand to be of the utmost importance for the NBA and the NBPA, as if an agreement for a new CBA cannot be reached, the beginning of the regular season is likely to be delayed/cancelled.

The two sides went at it both Friday and Saturday, meeting for nearly a total of 15 hours in hopes of finding a happy medium. Unfortunately, they were unable to come to terms, but it wasn't before the NBPA ushered in some of its big guns for support. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade were among those who joined NBPA President Derek Fisher over the weekend, with the goal of not only providing some "muscle," but also making sure the NBA's wide range of talent is being efficiently represented during negotiations.

Seeing as how the meetings are being held in New York City, it's phenomenal to see a player of Anthony's caliber, popularity, and status involved. It's clearly beneficial for him to be representing, so to speak, as the Big Apple is one of the NBA's most popular markets. His dedication and commitment can only assist in the effort to begin the season ASAP, preferably on time. His presence has certainly not gone unnoticed, undoubtedly appreciated by both the union, as well as the fans.

Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commish Adam Silver have referred to Tuesday's meeting as a "make it or break it" type of meeting. Nevertheless, has the NBPA already pulled out all of its stops as they try to make an impact with player presence? As noted, there was tremendous player participation over the weekend, and in fact, Paul Pierce has been Fisher's right hand man all the way through Monday's smaller meeting.

On Tuesday, Fisher and the union will reportedly see support from his Lakers teammate and former MVP Kobe Bryant, as well as Knicks' superstar Amar'e Stoudemire.

Stoudemire essentially became New York City's favorite son as he helped revive the Knicks with a return to the postseason, ending a seven year drought. With his ever-growing success on and off the court, there's doubt that STAT is becoming one of the league's most marketable stars. His presence, opinion, and support of the union is surely to make an impact on the most important day of negotiations yet.

Bryant's presence is also key, but for a much different reason. While his star power may even be bigger than Stoudemire's, Bryant also stands as the NBA's most talented athlete to seriously flirt with the idea of playing overseas in the event of a prolonged lockout.

In fact, he's been doing more than just flirting. Bryant has been in negotiations with Virtus Bolonga, an Italian basketball team, for a lucrative deal. Having grown up in Italy while his father was playing professionally, Bryant already loves the country and would surely be eager to go there, should the lockout still be in effect. Furthermore, there would be no culture shock for Bryant, ala Earl Clark in China. The thought of one of the league's best players of all time seeking employment outside the country will certainly shake things up tomorrow.

The presence of Bryant and STAT can only work in the NBPA's favor. That being said, the limited amount of success between the two sides over the last three meetings cannot leave anyone overly optimistic heading into Tuesday.

More on this after the meetings.

Should There Be Optimism Surrounding NBA Labor Talks?

After a five-hour bargaining session between the NBA and its player's union, NBPA President Derek Fisher emerged Friday to call the meeting an "engaging" one, and said that the two sides discussed "a lot of different ideas, concepts, system issues, and economics."

Addressing the media following the meeting, Fisher was surrounded by a wide variety of talent. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Matt Bonner, and Arron Afflalo were among those who stood by Fisher, all standing somewhat solemnly. The Knicks' own Carmelo Anthony and Roger Mason Jr. were also in attendance.

Certain players had already departed despite attending the meeting earlier; those players included Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Udonis Haslem, Eric Gordon, Caron Butler, and Theo Ratliff.

What was the end result? No deal had been reached, but the two sides agreed to meet once again today as well.

Fisher seemed less concerned with any real pressing need to agree upon a deal by the end of this weekend. Commissioner David Stern also dismissed reports that he would cancel the season should no deal be reached in the coming days.

Instead, Fisher praised player participation, saying that although the number of players present yesterday said a lot for pictures sake, the union has felt their support throughout the process.

The NBPA President also went on to say that he felt as though the players could be more efficiently represented by the wider range of talent present.

"Everyone was in the room," said Fisher. The meeting gave the players "an opportunity to hear Commissioner Stern, Adam Silver, and some of our team owners in terms of their positions. That will continue to provide the framework going forward."

Fisher seemed to concentrate more on the fact that the two sides had heard each other out, saying that they will continue to work together in order to "bridge this gap."

Following a five-hour meeting, there had to be progress though, correct? If there wasn't any progress being made at all, perhaps parties from the two sides would have left the negotiating table early, feeling as though enough was enough.

Fisher did go on to say "there were times [in the meeting] where it was contentious. Guys are very passionate about their opinions. We had some of those moments today. There were also times where we were able to really talk, and show the type of respect that you show in a business negotiation. When you have as much at stake as we do, you have to expect some ups and downs in these meetings. That's what they've always included."

Through the ups and downs, was there any legitimate progress? Are the two sides any closer to reaching a deal?

Fisher noted, "As our guys did today, when you have the opportunity to be in the room and you see how massive the different aspects to putting this deal together really are, until it's finalized and there's an agreement, you won't ever feel close to being done."

He wouldn't address any specifics, and therefore Fisher appeared to be quite the diplomat. His body language and tone didn't necessarily reflect progress or any higher level of optimism, but he instead seemed to be in a patient state of mind, content with the fact that both sides were able to be heard and that the players as a larger group were able to "express themselves."

With that said, sources say the atmosphere grew tense in the negotiating room yesterday.

Players got up at different points, ready to exit, feeling as though no progress was being made. Players Union Chief Billy Hunter reportedly had to have a private conversation with Commissioner Stern, then rallying some of the players to stay and/or come back inside.

Furthermore, at one point, Dwyane Wade stood up after Stern apparently pointed his finger at him in an effort to make a point, exclaiming something to the effect of "I'm not a child."

With tension rising and tempers potentially flaring, I'm not fully prepared to say I believe significant progress was made yesterday However, the meeting did last five hours, and the two sides are currently meeting as we speak, so perhaps there must be potential for success today.

Fisher did insist that he did not feel as though yesterday's meeting was a waste of time for the players.

At the very least, yesterday's meeting prompted both sides to continue meeting. That has to be good for something, in my opinion. I'm more interested in, however, the reactions from both sides after today. That should certainly be more telling into the direction negotiations have and/or will be going.