On this day in Boston Celtics history, the preseason was canceled as labor negotiations between the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and team owners on creating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) remained in a deadlock in 1998 ahead of the first work stoppage interrupting the regular season in league history.
It would not only force the cancellation of preseason games but curtail the season considerably, with games not beginning until January of the following year. Primarily fought over the percentage of basketball-related income that would go to the players, an agreement would be reached several months later to end what was the most severe labor dispute in league history up to that time.
Buy Celtics TicketsThe so-called “Larry Bird” exception was another point of significant contention.
@AndrewSiciliano "Sure we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot, too.” – Patrick Ewing during the 1988-89 NBA lockout
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) March 8, 2017
Per the New York Times’ Mike Wise, “it was created to allow the Hall of Fame forward to re-sign with the Boston Celtics near the end of his career.”
“The clause benefited Jordan the last two years as the Chicago Bulls paid him over $30 million a season — more than $5 million more than a team is allowed to spend on all its players.”
Ultimately, it would be kept, but modified with limits on the amount of annual pay increases allowed, and brought on the introduction of the much-hated luxury tax.
Happy birthday to the Celtics own Reggie Hanson. All 8 games and 6 points of Celtics. You may not remember him, but I’m sure @RexChapman does.
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) October 6, 2021
Today is also the birthday of Celtics small forward Reggie Hanson, who came into the world today in 1968 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A product of Kentucky, Hanson was signed in 1998 after a few seasons playing abroad, an undrafted prospect from the 1991 NBA draft.
Hanson played just 8 games with Boston, over which he averaged 0.8 points and as many rebounds per game.
Happy birthday in heaven to the pride of the Holy Cross Crusaders and Boston Celtics, George Kaftan. pic.twitter.com/oTJDUhfGRB
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) February 22, 2021
Finally, it is also the date of the passing of former Boston small forward George Kaftan in 2018.
An alum of Holy Cross, the New York City native was selected by the Celtics in the second round of the 1949 Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor league of the NBA) draft.
He played a total of 76 games for the Celtics over two seasons, logging 11 points and 2.7 assists per game before being dealt to the New York Knicks for cash in 1950.
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