Legendary Basketball Tycoon

It can be said that Larry Tanebaum’s entry into the NBA was indeed unexpected and unwilling to see Bruce, but Bruce also knew that he was light-hearted after all. It would be useless if he came up with any convincing “proof” this time. Larry Tanebaum has already gotten through all the relationships, and it must also include some members of the owners' association behind.

Stern clearly said that he came to ask Bruce for his opinion. In fact, to put it bluntly, he was here to warn Bruce. If you don’t warn, it’s not enough. It was because of Bruce’s relationship that Canada failed to enter the game in 1995. If a big idiot shows up and doesn't hold on to it, the "opposers" like Bruce must say hello early so that something will happen later!

Bruce also knew that he had a great deal of trouble, so he didn't care about Stern.

"No, I don't have any opinion on the establishment of an NBA team in Canada. Mr. President, just do what you say. I'm up to you!"

Bruce decisively recognizes Stern. Sometimes he still wants to have a good relationship with Stern. After all, he has to stay in the league for a long time. If the relationship with the president of the league is too bad, be careful that people put you on small shoes.

Besides, Larry Tanebaum's entry into the NBA is already a certainty. Even if Bruce opposes it, it's useless. It's better to just buy Stern's face, it's worth it!

"Well, Bruce, if you can figure it out!"

Stern also did not expect that this time it would go so smoothly to talk to Bruce. You must know that Bruce came to the league headquarters to find out that he asked not to allow Canadian teams to join the league, and also listed a lot of "legitimate" Reason" too!

It's so easy for Bruce to compromise now, which makes Stern a little confused.

The contrast is so great that Stern couldn’t accept it for a while. In his mind, he still thought that Bruce would have to "struggle a few times", but now...

"You take time to participate in the owners' meeting as soon as possible. The establishment of an NBA team in Canada requires all owners of the league to participate and vote."

Stern didn't talk nonsense and directly told Bruce the ultimate purpose of the call.

Participate in the owners' meeting? !

In other words, he has not participated in several owners' meetings in total, and he is not very familiar with some operations of the owners' meetings, right. If possible, Bruce really doesn't want to participate in any owners' meetings.

Besides, if I want to study abroad and have to take an exam, what kind of owners' meeting would I have time to participate in?

Just vote for Larry Tanebaum, right, let the team general manager Mitch Kupchak vote on his behalf soon, I need to be so enthusiastic to participate!

"Mr. President, you know that I need to take an exam this year to study abroad. The owner you mentioned will let me ask Mitch Kupchak to participate on my behalf?!"

This is not to blame for Bruce. Although the time for the primary school final exam cannot be changed, but the time for the U.S. exam can be changed. When Bruce thinks about it, he will catch Stern and don’t know the specific time of the domestic primary school exam. There is a time difference, trying to avoid the matter of participating in the owners' meeting.

Participating in the return ceremony on Hong Kong Island is much more meaningful than attending any owners. Bruce will rush back to New York in a hurry unless he is crazy!

examination? !

Damn, Stern forgets that Bruce has to take an exam to study abroad. This is the second thing. The most important thing is that he doesn't know the exact time of the exam in China. Besides, how can someone change anything for Bruce? Isn't that talking!

If Bruce will miss the exam because of the owner, does it mean that Bruce has to repeat the grade before he graduates from elementary school? If this is spread to the United States, then the league would be ashamed. The owner of an NBA team is actually elementary school. I'm still a repeater before graduating. This makes melon-eating people all over the United States think about it. No, it's not going to work.

Bruce won’t come if he doesn’t come. Anyway, as long as the Hans has a representative to vote, it’s the same for the usual owners’ meetings. If the boss has something to do, he can let the top of the team take his place.

Stern also knew that the establishment of an NBA team in Canada could not be delayed. The owner's meeting had to be held before the lottery draw of the 1997 draft. Otherwise, how would that Canadian team allocate the lottery? What about the draft? !

Besides, doesn’t it take time for people to expand the draft, so let’s finish the owners’ meeting as soon as possible and start the selection of players as soon as possible!

"Okay, you can arrange for the team's top management to participate in the owners' meeting."

"Mr. President, don't worry, I will say hello to Mitch Kupchak, and everything will be done according to your requirements!"

Seeing that he had escaped the catastrophe, Bruce also felt relieved.

But before Bruce was relieved, Stern's next words shocked Bruce again.

"However, you must participate in the labor-management negotiations to be held in August in person. All owners cannot be absent. Then you have time to participate!"

In August, you have already finished all the exams in Bruce. The previous owner will not take you because of the exam. This is not to blame, but you will always have time to participate in the labor negotiation later.

Labor-management negotiations? !

A labor agreement refers to an agreement between the NBA (the chairman and the owners of 30 teams) and the players union (representing all players) on player contract rules, transactions, income distribution, drafts, salary caps, and other matters. Among them, the NBA represents the management side, the players union represents the labor side, and the negotiations between the two parties are labor-management negotiations.

After the labor-management negotiations reach an agreement, the operation of all teams and the signing of contracts for all players must be carried out under the provisions of the labor-management agreement.

Bruce knew about this labor-management negotiation, but he had never experienced it. In the past, Mickey Kupchak participated on his behalf. It is estimated that his age is not enough, and it is not enough now, but this time Stern pointed out that If you go to participate by yourself, maybe there is something else in it.

It should be understood that labor-management negotiations do not occur every year. They are only held when there is a dispute or every 6-7 years.

But the past few years have been too frequent. Next year’s labor-management negotiations will be the most terrible. Next year is estimated to be the year of the NBA’s huge shock. Stern and the others may not even know that this is also known by Bruce, a talent who has seen NBA history. .

The 191-day shutdown in 1998. It was also because the labor agreement was not reached at that time. It wasn't until February 1999 that the NBA reopened, and the season shrank to only 50 regular season games.

The most recent labor negotiations were due to the fact that the 1994 No. 1 pick Glenn Robinson signed a 10-year $68 million contract with the Bucks who selected him. As a rookie Robinson’s salary exceeds that of most players at the time. , This will obviously cause a lot of trouble.

In order to avoid a shrinking season, both labor and management decided to temporarily let the league play. After the 1994-1995 season, the NBA officially announced the suspension. After a long period of negotiation, the two sides finally gave in. The NBA canceled the hard salary cap and the salary of each team. Both have become more flexible, but the salary of players has also begun to be restricted, and the concept of maximum salary has begun to emerge.