The GM's Suite

Did Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett Mess Up CBA Negotiations?

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David Stern has been everywhere the past few days with the same story, 3 players railroaded the talks that would’ve saved the season. Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Bill Hunter has said this isn’t true. Here’s what Stern claims happened at that meeting:

There was a knock on the door where Stern was selling his owners on the idea of a 50/50 split. The players wanted to talk.

When they convened, instead of the union’s head, Hunter, or their negotiating committee of Maurice Evans, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, Theo Ratliff, Etan Thomas and Chris Paul, representing the players were Fisher, Kessler, and three superstars who had been to very few of the meetings at all: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant.

The players had two pieces of news that shocked the league: 50/50 was not good enough. And there was nothing further to discuss.

The players are keeping their united front. Hopefully some progress can be made by the mediator on Tuesday. There’s still time to keep the bulk of the season on track.

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