In his book “Shaq Talks Back,” Shaquille O’Neal shared his thoughts on the 1998-99 NBA lockout. The lockout was a bitter labor dispute between the NBA owners and players that lasted for 204 days, from July 1 to January 20. During that time, no NBA games were played. According to O’Neal, the players lost out on $2 billion in salary during the lockout. O’Neal was critical of the owners during the lockout, saying that they were “greedy” and “only cared about money.” He also said that the players were “outgunned” and “could never win” against the owners.
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In 1998, a lockout between NBA owners and players caused the cancellation of the first three months of the season.
Shaquille O’Neal describes the NBA lockout
The Big Diesel compared the lockout to a “baby momma situation.” He said that the owners were “the baby daddy” and the players were “the baby momma.” Shaq further claimed that the owners were always asking for more money and that the players were always trying to get what they were owed. In his book, Shaq writes:
“The owners are like the baby daddy, and the players are like the baby momma. The owners are always asking for more money, and the players are always trying to get what they are owed.”
The lockout eventually ended in 1999. The owners agreed to give the players a smaller share of the league’s revenue. They also agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement included a salary cap, but it also gave the players a smaller share of the league’s revenue. The players lost out on $2 billion in salary during the lockout, but they were at least able to return to the court.
The 1998-99 NBA lockout was a major setback for the league. It caused a lot of damage to the NBA’s brand and reputation. It also led to a loss of revenue for both the owners and the players. The lockout was a reminder of the power that the owners have over the players in the NBA.
Shaq has taken on NBA owners before
In 1996, Shaquille O’Neal signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time, it was the richest contract in NBA history. However, O’Neal was not happy with the contract. He felt that he was being underpaid, and he wanted to be paid more.
The dispute eventually led to a lawsuit. O’Neal filed a grievance alleging that the Lakers had breached his contract. The case went to arbitration. The arbitrator ruled in O’Neal’s favor. The Lakers were ordered to pay O’Neal an additional $30 million.
The Shaq-Buss dispute was a major turning point in the history of the NBA. It showed that players were willing to stand up to the league and demand what they were owed. The case also set a precedent for future contract negotiations.
The potential implications of the Shaq-Buss dispute are far-reaching. It could lead to more players demanding higher salaries, which could put a strain on the finances of NBA teams. It could also lead to more lawsuits, which could further complicate the relationship between players and owners.
