Referees reject NBA offer
Published:Friday | September 18, 2009 | 5:36 PM
The NBA moved ahead with plans to train replacement referees today after the National Basketball Referees Association, NBRA, rejected its final contract offer.
NBA’s executive vice president Rick Buchanan said the proposals made to the NBRA are extraordinarily fair and reasonable, given the current economic circumstances.
It is extremely disappointing that the NBRA has ignored the economic realities, rejected the offer, and left the NBA with no choice but to begin using replacement referees, he added.
The NBA said its offer would have maintained current salary levels and modestly reduced the NBA\'s referee costs through changes to benefits and travel policies.
Entry-level referees earn almost $150 ,000 per year while senior referees\' salaries top $550,000.