NBA lockout over, Pekovic to leave Partizan!

Nikola Pekovic (Photo: Mozzart sport)

After a marathon negotiating session, NBA players and owners have reached a tentative agreement that would end the lockout. In that way, many European basketball clubs will be left without NBA stars, including the Serbian champion Partizan BC, which will lose Nikola Pekovic.

Even though on November 14th the players association disbanded after rejecting Commissioner David Stern’s so-called last offer, the two sides got together again Friday in a New York hotel room. Just after 3 a.m. Saturday, word was released that a deal had been reached.

Stern and Billy Hunter, the leader of the players’ union, announced at a joint news conference that a tentative agreement had been reached. The league plans to begin the 2011-12 season on Christmas Day with regular games that include the Los Angeles Lakers playing against the Chicago Bulls.

Stern said, “We’ve reached a tentative understanding that is subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations, but we’re optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin Dec. 25.”

The deal, which must be accepted by vote from the majority of players and at least 15 of 29 independent owners would provide for a 66-game season, with December 9th marking the opening of training camps.

An ESPN.com report says that players will receive a little more than 50 percent of basketball-related income, a point over which the two sides had fought for some time.