Roger Mason Jr. Says The NBA Lockout Is About More Than 'Two Percentage Points'

There's a pervasive impression that the NBA lockout has come down to just one issue: the owners and players finding a mutually agreeable way to split Basketball Related Income, or BRI. The players, according to multiple reports, are willing to take 52.5% of BRI, a significant concession from the 57% they were receiving under the previous agreement, while the owners want an even 50/50 split.

But Roger Mason Jr., a member of the executive board of the NBA players' union and a major voice in the ongoing negotiations, says in a post on his official blog that it's not actually that simple.

"There are a lot of misconceptions about what's really going on here," Mason writes. "I really wish it were as simple as people fighting over 2 percentage points. That number is an important one, but it's not the beginning and ending of the issues. No matter what, I know in my heart what really matters and I want more than anything to see this work out for all involved (especially for the fans!)."

Talks between the owners and players are scheduled to resume on Saturday.