Report: Entire NBA season threatened

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Amid reports he is ready to threaten the players with cancellation of the season, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Wednesday no labor settlement was in sight.

"We're not near a deal," Stern said following a 4-hour negotiating session with union officials. NBA players have been locked out since July 1 after the league's collective bargaining agreement expired.

Another bargaining session is planned for Friday after a break for the Jewish new year.

ESPN reported Wednesday that Stern planned to threaten the players with the loss of the season if major progress toward a settlement is not made by the end of the weekend.

"There are enormous consequences at play here on the basis of the weekend," Stern said. "Either we'll make very good progress -- we know how good that would be -- or we won't make any progress. Then it won't be a question of just starting the season on time. There will be a lot at risk."

The opening of training camps has already been delayed and about half the exhibition schedule has been wiped out. The regular season is scheduled to start Nov. 1.

"We realize the calendar, watch, clock, whatever, is running out in terms of starting the regular season on time," NBA Players Association President Derek Fisher said.

"If we can't find a way to get some common ground really, really soon, then the time of starting the regular season at the scheduled date is in jeopardy big time. We still have a great deal of issues to work through, so there won't be any magic that will happen this weekend and make those things go away."