NBA To Present Evidence To Counter Union's 'Unfair Labor Practices' Claim

The NBA will present evidence and provide witnesses to combat the players' union's unfair labor practices claim, reports Sports Business Daily (via PBT). The union filed the claim with the National Labor Relations Board in May and amended the complaint in July. Reports suggested resolution on the charge -- which, if it supported the union's claims, would amount to little more than a public flogging for the league -- could be had quickly.

But Sports Business Daily reports that the NBA's entrance into the matter will delay a ruling by at least a month. The specific charges included that at least one owner spoke to a player about the lockout outside of bargaining process and that the league hadn't come to the table willing to negotiate in good faith.

The league dismissed the charges as baseless in May.

Now, the league will officially try to beat back the charges. The potential for the union to decertify and file anti-trust litigation remains in the background. NBPA head Billy Hunter met with agents pushing decertification last week.