Author: Brett Usher

The lockout-shortened 1999 season was the worst in NBA history. It was the shortest, the ugliest, and, at least until recently, the all-around weirdest. For the NBA, it was rock bottom. In 1995, following a brief work stoppage, a six-year collective bargaining agreement was reached between NBA players and NBA owners. In 1998, the owners exercised a clause in the agreement which allowed the CBA to be re-opened based on player salaries drawing more than 51.8 percent of total basketball-related income. The owners wanted to implement restrictions on how much players could be paid, as prior to the lockout, due…