The last lockout took years to recover the fans and the hype of the game, that has been made great by so many previous athletes and franchises.
An argument that is dominated by the phrase "our rights" by so many different parties, it's hard to know whether to laugh or cry as this product is dragged through the mud by those profit from it the most.
Andrew Bogut is very disappointed he has missed an opportunity to play for the Sydney Kings, due to a holdup over the insurance fee on the remaining 40 million on his NBA contract. On a Bright note Patty Mills is lighting up the boards on the local front.
The players continue to fight for a bigger piece of the pie, even though they already earn over fifty percent of the revenue generated by the game.
The Franchise owners are fighting to at least break even or make a small profit. Franchise purchases are made in the hundreds of millions so it must be considered fair that they have a right to recuperate at least some of their investment.
There are also the rights of the staff on the ground of all the stadiums that need games to go ahead so they can earn an income from night to night.
The NBA has its own set of rights also. They run the game, and they regulate the rules and the draft. They're responsible for the direction of the sport and the growing of the product. Which they have a proven track record of excellence in a tough sporting market dominated by the NFL and MLB.
So what's the answer to the madness? I think it is imperative that a deal is cut where all parties benefit. It involves the players giving a little back, they play 80 odd games a year of a non contact sport and earn millions of dollars already, and perhaps enough is enough.
The NBA commission might also need to share some funds from their fat wallet over to the Franchise owners each year. Also a well regulated salary cap might stop the Big Three circus from ever happening again.
Although these answers seem like common sense, so many protruding factors are seeping into this ordeal that will block any short sided answers to this obscene enigma.
We have already cancelled the opening weeks of season, it may also be a very lonely Christmas at the Staples Centre, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.