NBA Lockout: 50-50 Split Presented As Ultimatum In Latest Mediation

There was no negotiating the 50-50 BRI split, according to NBPA union executive Billy Hunter, and that's why the talks broke down on Thursday. Hunter told reporters the union was presented an ultimatum by the owners, and even with a mediator present, the 50-50 split was non-negotiable.

Hunter says he looked at mediator's notes, and they said Holt and Silver described 50-50 as "take it or leave it."

Hunter had his theories on the split, and explained why the union was reluctant to take it during the mediation sessions this week.

Billy Hunter saying again that this whole process was "pre-ordained" to break the union. Says owners gave union "ultimatum" on 50-50 split.

Hunter says players won't accept the 50-50 split until players know what the system -- lux tax, exceptions -- lools like.

If Hunter is to be believed, the union was essentially flying blind, without a clue what the so-called 50-50 split meant in terms of the complete structure of the deal. It appears the long hours with the mediator and marathon meeting sessions were for naught as the BRI split was, once again, the sticking point that killed any momentum in the talks.

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