Fisher issues letter to players urging unity via social media

NEW YORK -- As top officials from the National Basketball Players' Association and NBA convene in New York for a last-ditch effort to preserve the full 2011-12 season, union president Derek Fisher issued a letter to all players urging them show their unity via social media and to attend another meeting out West.

SI.com got a hold of Fisher's letter, which was set out one day before the NBA plans to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season if a new collective bargaining agreement has not been reached.

Fisher encouraged all players to attend an NBPA meeting in Los Angeles on Monday, and to utilize "our personal social networking channels to show the fans and you all, that we are united and want to get back to work under a fair deal."

Below is the full letter. The bold text was formatted by Fisher:

All,

I hope you all received Billy's letter regarding meetings on both coasts. You are all invited and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Los Angeles meeting taking place tomorrow, Monday, October 10th in the afternoon. I urge each of you to attend if at all possible. We find these meetings extremely productive and informative as we review the status and details of the CBA negotiations, answer questions and discuss next steps.

Chris Paul and I will also be utilizing our personal social networking channels to show the fans and you all, that we are united and want to get back to work under a fair deal.

On Monday, Chris and I will tweet and post "LET US PLAY." This was used by the NFL players and many will be joining us on Monday and retweeting the same message to show their support for our players. I will also be using the hash tag #StandUnited after all my messages until this lockout is over.

We invite you each to do the same. To show our unity and to remind the fans that this is not our choice and we would like to go back to work and play the game they love to support.

My twitter is @DerekFisher and Chris' is @OneandOnlyCP3. Please feel free to send me yours so we can support each other.

Again, look forward to seeing any and all of you on Monday at the meeting. Contact me in the meantime if you need anything. Stand united.

Derek