Today in Boston Celtics history, in 1998, labor negotiations between the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and team owners reached a deadlock, resulting in the cancellation of that year's preseason and some of the regular season. It represented the first work stoppage that interrupted the regular season in the league's history as they sought to establish a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). It not only forced the cancellation of preseason games but curtail the season considerably, with games not beginning until January of the following year.
Primarily fought over the percentage of basketball-related income to go to the players, an agreement was reached to end the then-most severe labor dispute in league history. The so-called
"Larry Bird" exception was another point of contention. Per the New York Times' Mike Wise, "it was created to allow the Hall of Fame forward to re-sign with the Boston Celtics near the end of his career. The clause benefited Jordan the last two years as the Chicago Bulls paid him over $30 million a season -- more than $5 million more than a team is allowed to spend on all its players."
Ultimately, it was kept, but modified with limits on the amount of annual pay increases allowed, and brought on the introduction of the much-hated luxury tax.
Birthdays
Today is also the birthday of Celtics small forward Reggie Hanson, who came into the world today in 1968 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
An alum of Kentucky, Hanson was signed in 1998 after a few seasons playing abroad, an undrafted prospect from the 1991 NBA Draft. Hanson played just 8 games with Boston, over which he averaged 0.8 points and as many rebounds per game.
Gone too soon
Finally, it is also the date of the passing of former Boston small forward George Kaftan in 2018. An alum of Holy Cross, the New York City native was selected by the Celtics in the second round of the 1949 Basketball Association of America (BAA – a precursor league of the NBA) Draft.
He played a total of 76 games for the Celtics over two seasons, logging 11 points and 2.7 assists per game before being dealt to the New York Knicks for cash in 1950.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: 1998 preseason canceled ahead of '98 lockout; Kaftan passes
