By Marcus Shockley

Members of the NBA players association look on as Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association Billy Hunter (C) speaks during a news conference announcing the players rejection of the league’s latest offer on Monday and the process to begin disbanding the union in New York November 14, 2011. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT)

     

THE NBA LOCKOUT IS OVER.

The reports coming out late last night and early this morning are that the NBA owners and players have reached a tentative agreement. This means that while both sides have agreed in principle, the lawyers still have to iron out the details.

That’s expected to happen by December 9, which means training camp and free agency will begin on that day as long as everything goes smoothly. It also means a mad scramble for the players to get ready for a truncated season. It also means that most likely there will not be any exhibition games, but that the season will begin on Christmas, December 25.

The date was an important one for the NBA in that the Christmas games are the most watched for the NBA with the exception of the NBA Finals, and it would have meant a massive revenue loss for both sides. The current plan is to have a 66 game season.

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