It looks as though NBA fans may get a little something extra under the tree this coming Christmas.
According to the Associated Press, NBA owners and players reached a tentative agreement to end the 149 day lockout early Saturday morning in hopes to begin a 66 game regular season on December 25th.
After the owners and players held a secret meeting earlier in the week, both sides sat at the negotiating table for 15 hours Friday in a last-ditch effort to salvage a 2011-12 season.
Neither side offered up any specifics on the deal that still must be ratified by the owners and players in order to be made official.
“We want to play basketball,” Commissioner David Stern said.
Stern said it was “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.”
Based on the information that has come out, here is what we do know about the season, tentatively…
According to commissioner David Stern, the NBA tentatively plans to start a 66-game schedule on Christmas Day.
Three games are scheduled for Dec. 25: Boston at New York (noon ET, ESPN), Miami at Dallas (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and Chicago at L.A. Lakers (5 ET, ABC).
Here are the key dates for the next month, according to Stern:
Dec. 9: Training camp opens
Dec. 9: Free agency begins
Dec. 25: NBA regular season begins
However before a deal can be ratified by the players, they will need to reform their union which they dissolved in order to file an anti-trust lawsuit against the League.
Here is what players were saying in the Twitter world regarding the tentative deal…
Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5):
My expression now lockerz.com/s/159614750
Chris Paul (@CP3):
Back like I never left…
Kevin Love (@kevinlove):
Caught the 10:45 showing of the Muppets Movie and I see we have struck a deal…
Ty Lawson (@TyLawson3):
Hittin the dougie all day!!!
DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan)
Im starting to have anxiety attacks lol
Danny Granger (@dgranger33):
I’m pretty sure the vote will happen either tomorrow or sunday…let’s all pray this turns out well
Heat owner Micky Arison (@MickyArison)
I must be dreaming…..
Jason Thompson (@jtthekid):
Merry XMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol
Brian Cardinal (@BrianCardinal):
I wonder where @tysonchandler and @jjbareapr will play this coming season???? #MFFL
Jordan Hamilton (@J_Goin_HAM):
Me and my girlfriend just hooked back up #Basketball
Cory Joseph (@Cory_Joe):
Lockout is over!!! Last time the lockout ended the spurs won the championship. Let’s hope history repeats itself #GoTime
Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5):
If this is true I am Bouta go wake my mom n grandma up and put on a suit and thunder hat and cry! Please be true #nbaback
Trevor Booker (@Trevor_Booker):
Id like to think my bday is good luck
Austin Daye (@Adaye5):
Lockout over!!!!! Can’t wait to get back to the palace and play!!! Im bout to go get some shots up right now, I’m too excited to sleep!!!!!
Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover):
This feels surreal.
C.J. Miles (@CJMiles34):
I might not sleep until the 9th
Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside)
The lockout OVER no more peanut better n jelly sandwiches n Ramen noodlleeee
Mo Williams (@mogotti25)
Crying tears of joy. What did I do to deserve thisssss. (rozay voice)
Ref: Associated Press, Twitter, ESPN, Sporting News, AP (image)
