NBA cancels more games

A day after the players’ union rejected the NBA's latest contract offer and began the process of disbanding the union, the NBA told teams that it had canceled all games through Dec. 15, a league source confirmed to The Times Tuesday afternoon.

The union is expected to file a “disclaimer of interest” so it can convert to a trade association as the dispute moves into the courts. Players are expected to file antitrust lawsuits against the NBA claiming the league conspired to prevent them from making a living.

The players have been locked out by NBA owners for 139 days.

Previously, NBA Commissioner David Stern had canceled all games through Nov. 30.

Stern had hoped to reach a new labor agreement with the players this week so that they could start playing games on Dec. 15, but clearly that won’t be the case.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Billy Hunter, Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association and Derek Fisher, President of the National Basketball Players Association speak at a press conference Monday after NBA players rejected the latest labor offer from the league. Credit: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images.