NBA Lockout: Players React on Twitter to Regular-Season Games Being Cancelled

NBA players have taken to Twitter in an effort to mount public support during the lockout, and most were extremely vocal after Monday's marathon eight-hour meeting.

Despite the lack of measurable progress made by the two sides throughout the negotiating process, it's imperative to note that the players have offered considerable concessions while the owners have not followed suit in that regard.

NBPA president Derek Fisher voiced his position very clearly and with careful articulation when the NBA decided to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season, and others have come to his support in talking lockout on Twitter.

There were a variety of reactions from around the league.

Omri Casspi

Omri Casspi was expecting to hear some good news after Tuesday's meeting, but he was disappointed just like the fans.

It's incredible that the two sides could meet for such an extended period of time without making legitimate progress toward a deal, and that's probably a sentiment that's echoed readily among the fanbase.

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Had big expectation for today's meeting. Really disappointed.

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Lance Stephenson

Lance Stephenson provided some wise words when hinting toward the owners' collective strategy at this point in the negotiating process.

Stern is banking on the fact that the union will become divided when paychecks cease to exist, and that will ultimately force the players to collectively cave.

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Ur strongest enemy is the one who knows ur weak spot.

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Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony was a little bit more straightforward in offering his apology to the fans, and it's clear that he wants to be playing basketball.

He admitted that the current situation sucks, but he chose to do so using some slightly more explicit terms in an effort to express his position.

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I just wanna apologize to all the fans for this lockout. Trust me, I feel y'all pain. This sh*t sucks.

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Matt Carroll

Matt Carroll offered up his apologies to everyone that's indirectly impacted by the lengthy lockout, and it's more than most fans might imagine.

As he notes, arena employees, local businesses, and a plethora of people not directly tied to the league and/or its players will have to make concessions.

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All the NBA arena employees, businesses and people who are being negatively affected by this #lockout, I'm sorry you have to deal with this!

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Roger Mason

Mason was apologetic to the workers losing employment as a result of the stalled discussions, noting that it would impact "thousands" of people.

It's clear that the players would rather be playing basketball than continuing to negotiate, but without a fair deal on the table, they're certainly not going to accept the terms as presented.

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Sad day in the NBA with the cancellation of first 2 weeks.I feel horrible for the thousounds of workers impacted by lockout. #freebasketball

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Roger Mason Part 2

The players knew that Stern was threatening the cancellation of the first two weeks of the regular season long before yesterday.

Mason reiterated that the plan for Stern to do so was in the cards the entire time, and it's not surprising considering that the owners seem unwilling to negotiate on any terms but their own.

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The cancellation of games was the NBA strategy all along, yet they want the fans to think the players are to blame.

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Jason Richardson

Richardson hid nothing and divulged that the 7 p.m. workout sessions are becoming "mentally tough" with the knowledge that the season isn't starting on time.

For a veteran player like Richardson who is a free agent and looking to win at the highest level, every day without the NBA is going to pass by slowly.

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These 7am workouts r getting mentally tough, especially knowing that season not starting on time. smh

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Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings misses the Bradley Center, his teammates, his coaches and clearly, life as a basketball player in the NBA.

Like he voices, without a training camp, preseason or the first two weeks of the season, it's an awfully strange time to be a basketball fan.

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no training camp, no pre-season, first 2 weeks cancelled.... This is really crazy!!! I miss the Bradley Center, teammates and coaches

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Spencer Hawes

Hawes voiced his displeasure with the labor situation in a rather simple manner, but it certainly got the message he was trying to vocalize across to his followers with clarity.

It's impossible to disagree with him.

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Damn shame.

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Damien Wilkins

Wilkins was apologetic to fans, but he seemed to express even more concern to the workers in arenas who are losing work as a result.

He seems to be hopeful that there can be a resolution soon, but all we've got to go on at this current juncture is hope.

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Sorry NBA fans. And especially feel bad for all the good ppl that run and operate all the arenas in the NBA. Hopefully we resolve soon!

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Matt Carroll Part 2

Carroll was especially vocal on the canceling of the first two weeks of the season, and he seemed to really be upset by the decision made by Commissioner Stern.

Disappointed is a word that some people use too frequently, but it first perfectly here as it works perfectly.

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I'm disappointed to say to all the fans but the 1st two weeks of our NBA season have been cancelled.

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Darnell Jackson

Darnell Jackson took an interesting approach in his apology, expressing his sincerest regret that he couldn't represent Jayhawk Nation on the hardwood.

Referencing the "powers that be," Jackson clearly calls out the owners for their unwillingness to negotiate on a level playing field in the pursuit of a fair deal.

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My apologies to Jayhawk Nation. We alum love representing KU on the big stage, but the "powers that be" don't seem to care. #standunited

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Reggie Evans

Evans apologized to NBA fans, but he tried to explain that the current stance from the NBPA is "for the best."

Unfortunately that probably won't resonate deeply within most casual fans, but the long-term future of the league's players would definitely be compromised if the deal on the table was accepted.

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NBA Fans we are so sorry but its for the best.

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Udonis Haslem

Haslem is new to Twitter, but it didn't take him long to understand how to have his message effectively reach the masses.

He was up early on Tuesday morning because he was thinking about all of those adversely impacted by the lockout, and like Hawes, expressed his disappointment.

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Up early in the morning thinking bout all the people affected by the decision made. All I can say is this a damn shame.

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David West

Some in the public have been under the inconceivable concept that this is a strike instituted by the players, but that stance couldn't be more incorrect.

West wanted to ensure that everyone understood the owners made this decision to lock out the players, just in case anyone had the wrong idea.

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We r Not on a workers strike...The owners made the decision to lockout its players...

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Steve Nash Part 1

Nash was extremely vocal about the lockout on Twitter yesterday, and it's a shame that he wasn't more involved in the talks between the two sides.

He acknowledged that the players want to play for the fans, but the owners have spread a gargantuan amount of misinformation regarding the real issues at stake throughout the process.

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Thanks for the overwhelming support today guys. You know we want to play & you understand the propaganda/misinformation from the owners.

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Quincy Pondexter

Although he took a rather casual approach to the scenario, Pondexter made it clear that this lockout is not something that the players want at all.

He just wants to play the game that he loves, but certainly not without a deal that provides the product (players) with the fair share of what they deserve.

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First 2 weeks of the season cancelled?!? Smh Let us get back to work and play the game we LOVE

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Marcus Thornton

Thornton wasn't a household name for some last season prior to his arrival with the Kings, but now he's certainly a recognizable figure after his success with the Kings.

He shouted out NBPA president Derek Fisher on Twitter for standing up on behalf of the players in the pursuit of a fair deal, and a lot of athletes in the league could learn a lot by following suit.

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S/O @derekfisher for not stopping until we get a fair and righteous deal hard worker on and off the court #salute

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Jared Dudley

Dudley is another member of the Phoenix Suns (along with Nash) who was dropping knowledge on fans about the real issues at stake for both parties during the lockout.

As I've repeated several times previously, Dudley argues that players aren't to blame if an owner wants to overpay him for his services.

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RT @303swaG: They do. Mediocre players shouldn't be makin over $10 mill. a year. ( ok, so is it their fault that they offered it to them?)

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Steve Nash Part 2

Nash went on a serious rant about what is really going on, and I'm extraordinarily glad that he did.

After a season of basketball that was one of the most exciting we've seen in recent memory, the concessions the players are willing to make are far greater than what the owners have shown a willingness to do to date.

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After a banner year the players are still willing to GIVE the owners a higher percentage in good faith.

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Steve Nash Part 3

Nash didn't just stop after part one or two though, as he had a lot to get off of his chest and into the public perception.

As he says beautifully, the players are negotiating to give back money, and all of that will go directly into the already-fat wallets of the billionaire owners.

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The players are negotiating to take less money & let's be clear that's not going to lower ticket prices, it just lines the owners pockets

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Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut took a simple but effective approach to everybody that will suffer as a result of the cancellation of games, and it's worth including his entire tweet as a serious point of emphasis.

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Ticket ushers, local bars/clubs/food, police officers, security, in arena food and drink, hotels,local small businesses,should I keep going?

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It's about far more than just basketball games being lost.

Steve Nash Part 4

Most importantly, Nash made sure to apologize to arena workers who are missing paychecks as a result.

It's tough to blame the players for that when the owners have clearly wanted to maintain a hard-line position throughout, regardless of the consequences at hand.

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Genuinely sorry to all the employees in and around NBA arenas losing work.

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Dwyane Wade

Wade took a very direct shot at the commissioner, and it's not surprising considering the two reportedly got into a heated disagreement during a previous bargaining session.

As much as he loves the game of basketball, it's obvious that he's pained to see so many of the fans and workers now suffering as a result of the lockout.

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STERN's "WORDS" 2day hurt the ppl who work at the AAA,other arena's,as well as local businesses &our fans..

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LeBron James

James apologized to all of his fans, and his emotional plea definitely resonated loudly after he did a similar thing following the South Florida All-Star Classic.

There would be no NBA support without the fans backing the league, and there wouldn't be a league to be watched without the players that comprise the rosters.

The owners don't seem to care about any of that.

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I wanna sincerely say sorry to all the fans! It's a sad day for all of us, especially u guys! There's no US w/o You. #loveuguys

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