NBA Free Agency 2010: Why The Beginning Shows a 2011 Strike Is Imminent

July 2nd, 2010 by Benjie Klein Leave a reply »
Twas a strange year. 

Keith Van Horn scored over 20 PPG, Karl Malone won the MVP, and Chris Webber and Antonio McDyess still had knees. 

And who can forget, Dominique Wilkins playing for the Orlando Magic.

The year, 1999, and the NBA was attempting to recover from a lockout that almost took away an entire season.

It also may have taken the best player in NBA history. Imagine if Michael Jordan didn't have an extra four months to decide on his second official retirement.

Let's get a quick history lesson in first, and compare it to today.

Start with 1989, almost 10 years before the strike would officially hit the NBA.

Jon Koncak coming off a solid 4.7 PPG and 6.1 RPG at age 25, signs a six-year-deal worth $13 million. Today, that's chump change even for a player with those numbers. But back then it was more than Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan were making. 

Flash ahead now, the NBA labor disputes are getting even more heated.

Both sides keep colliding with mini-lockouts that quickly dissipate. 

Then, Jim McIlvaine appeared in 1996. ...

Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
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