Lebron James Expresses Optimism About NBA Season in 2012

Despite the fact that the NBA lockout is currently in full effect, forcing many players to temporarily take their talents to various summer leagues where they’ve been humiliatingthe competition, Miami Heat star LeBron James remains “optimistic” that the 2011-2012 NBA season will happen.

Speaking in a press conference this Friday to reporters in Taipei, Taiwan, James said:

“Right now I am working toward the NBA season, I believe there will be a season, and hopefully both sides can come together.”

James and the rest of his NBA co-“workers” have been locked out since July 1, 2011, when the old Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), expired and nothing could be achieved in negotiations about the next CBA.

There is apparently a large gap in the demands of players and NBA owners which cannot be bridged quickly, as the two groups have been split over issues including distribution of revenues and the imposition of a salary cap.

While James is confident that NBA players union chief Billy Hunter and NBA commissioner David Stern will come to an agreement soon enough, his teammate Dwayne Wade has stated he may play overseas if it doesn’t happen this year.

“I’m going to play basketball this year,” Wade told the Associated Press in New York this Tuesday. “I don’t know where, but I love the game so much that I will play it. And we will figure that out.”

Addressing LeBron’s optimism that the upcoming season would take place, Wade added:

“I understand why LeBron said it. At the end of the day, we are in negotiations. And you know how negotiations work. In the 11th hour, it can look like nothing’s going to happen. In the 12th hour, we can have it happen. You have to prepare like we’re going to have to be ready for training camp in the first week of October, just like you normally do. So I understand exactly what he meant. I’m not that positive that it might happen.”

via NBA.com