NBA Players and Owners Reach Tentative Labor Agreement

NBA owners and the NBA Players Association have reached a tentative labor agreement, the two parties announced early Saturday morning in a joint press conference.

After more than 15 hours of negotiation that started Friday and stretched into Saturday morning, representatives for both owners and players said they had laid the framework for a deal that would end the NBA lockout, now in its 150th day.

NBA Commissioner David Stern said the season would have 66 games, opening on Christmas Day.

“We’ve reached a tentative understanding that is subject to a variety of approvals,” said Stern at a press conference at nearly 4 a.m. eastern time on Saturday in New York. “But we’re optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin on Dec. 25.”