How long did the 1998-99 NBA lockout last?
The 1998-99 NBA lockout lasted 204 days, running from the 1st of July 1998, to the 20th of January 1999, when both parties signed the new collective bargaining agreement.
Questions about 1998–99 NBA lockout
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did the 1998-99 NBA lockout happen?
NBA owners triggered the lockout after reopening the collective bargaining agreement in March 1998, seeking to limit individual player salaries and eliminate loopholes in the salary cap. A key sticking point was the Larry Bird exception, which allowed teams to spend beyond the cap to re-sign their own players, and a six-year, $126 million deal Kevin Garnett had signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
How many games were canceled during the 1998-99 NBA lockout?
The lockout resulted in 464 regular-season games being lost. The 1998-99 season was shortened to 50 games per team instead of the usual 82, and the 1999 All-Star Game -- scheduled for the 14th of February 1999 in Philadelphia -- was also canceled.
Who reached the deal to end the 1998-99 NBA lockout?
NBA commissioner David Stern and NBPA executive director Billy Hunter reached the agreement on the 6th of January 1999, the day before Stern's deadline for canceling the entire season. The deal was ratified by the players that day and by the NBA Board of Governors on January 7.
What were the terms of the settlement that ended the 1998-99 NBA lockout?
The agreement capped player salaries at between $9 million and $14 million per year depending on years of service, making the NBA the first major U.S. sports organization to limit individual player pay. A rookie pay scale tied to draft position was introduced, the league minimum salary was raised to $287,500, and a luxury tax was imposed on teams exceeding the cap. The Larry Bird exception was retained but maximum annual pay raises under it were capped.
How did the 1998-99 NBA lockout affect attendance and television ratings?
Average attendance during the shortened season fell to 16,738 fans per game, down 2.2% from 17,117 the previous season. Ticket sales dropped nearly another 2% in the following season and stayed below 17,000 per game for three straight years after the lockout. Television ratings also declined for three consecutive seasons.