New York, NY, United States

NBA commissioner David Stern ordered team owners to impose a lockout Friday midnight after the league and the players association failed to come up with a new collective bargaining agreement on the final day before their current deal expires.

After months of labor discussions, the NBA and the players association left Thursday's meeting without an agreement, sending a cloud of uncertainty over the entire league.

The NBA became the second major North American sports league to impose a work stoppage after the NFL and their players union also fell to reach a new deal four months ago.

In a lockout, players and teams will not be allowed to contact with each other and paychecks and health care will be suspended.

The work stoppage also paralyzed the league's business until a new deal was agreed upon.

Player's union vice president Matt Bonner said they tried to avert a work stoppage, but the owners' offer was just too absurd for the taking.

"They're asking for a deal that is worse than hockey's, which is considered to be the worst collective bargaining deal in sports history," Bonner told Real GM Thursday. "If that's their best offer, we don't have much choice but to fight for something better."

NBA owner have been proposing a hard salary cap, which can lessen their expenses by millions in the coming years.

With a lockout coming Friday midnight, the NBA took a nosedive just weeks after completing its most successful season since the Michael Jordan era.

Television ratings were up in NBA games last season, thanks to the mercurial rise of Miami Heat and the emergence of young and talented players.

Players fear the league's growing popularity will be deeply compromised during a lockout.

Basketball followers believe it will take months before the two parties reach an agreement.

The last NBA lockout happened in 1999, where it took six months for the league and players union to reach a deal and start a shortened season.

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