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TAYLORSVILLE — It's a billion-dollar business, but Monday night some members of the Utah Jazz played for free.
If not for the NBA lockout, the Utah Jazz would be preparing for a game in Miami Tuesday night. But instead of a high-stakes game, they suited up with other NBA pros for a charity game at Salt Lake Community College.
With a league ultimatum looming over their heads, and the clock ticking toward a deadline, the players union could sure use a buzzer beater.
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette is ready to launch his NBA career. "It's definitely tough, but you know it's for a purpose," he said. "We're just trying to stick together. We realize that Billy and Derek Fischer and those guys are gonna make the best decisions for us."
After hours of negotiations over the weekend, the league issued the players an ultimatum: accept the current offer or the deal will only get worse.
"It's kinda like they want everything. Instead of, you know, meeting halfway, they kinda just want everything. It's really not a good faith negotiation," said Chauncey Billups, of the New York Knicks, who also played in Monday night's game.
The NBA gave the players union until Wednesday to accept a deal that offers 51 percent basketball-related income. The players call it unacceptable; and if they reject that deal, the league's next offer would sink to 47 percent.
Fans are frustrated.
"They're worried a few points, a few percentage points or whatever: 51 percent, 49 percent. I mean, it's money, but they already have so much why don't they just get out and play," said Jazz fan Jordan Rex.
"Everybody's making a ton of money. So the sentiment that I'm hearing is ‘quit crying, grow up and come to an agreement,'" said Katie Dunn, also a Jazz fan.
If the league follows through with a worse offer, players may move to disband the union and go to court.
"It's just disappointing that (it's) over a couple hundred million dollars that this is coming down to," said NBA fan Jon Alleman. "I'd go play for $100,000, that would be pretty sweet."
As far as the season being played, fans say they were more optimistic six weeks ago than now.
Email: jboal@ksl.com
