Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
HONOLULU ó Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose has established himself among the elite NBA players in just three seasons. His salary, however, doesnít come anywhere near the top in the league, let alone his own team.
Because of rookie salary scale restrictions, the leagueís reigning MVP earns about $5.5 million a season ó far less than other NBA stars. The scale is on the table between the league and playersí association during its extended labor dispute that could result in more games being canceled and might wipe out the season.
Rose, in Hawaii this week visiting military personnel as part of the Hoops for Troops USO Tour, will undoubtedly earn a lot more when he becomes a free agent at the end of his four-year, $22.5 million contract, depending on the new agreement, of course.
ěI wish it was back like where it was in the old days where there wasnít a cap,î Rose told The Associated Press on Tuesday. ěBack in the day, they were giving guys coming out of college with multimillion-dollar contracts, so why stop it now? The game is growing. Thereís no need to stop it.î
The union would like players to get out from the rookie salary scale quicker than five years. On Monday, union executive director Billy Hunter mentioned Rose and Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin during an hour-long podcast with ESPN.com as examples of players who are underpaid because there are still locked into their scale figures.
The league said it has proposed a new bonus pool for top-performing rookie scale players who earn league honors as such as MVP or are on the All-NBA first, second or third teams.
Rose said the labor strife is about getting an agreement thatís fair.
ěGreed is not on our side,î Rose said. ěWeíre not greedy. What theyíre trying to do to us is dead wrong.î
WORLD CLASSIC
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ó Organizers say Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade are expected to headline an exhibition basketball game in Puerto Rico on Sunday.
The World All-Star Classic also will feature Amare Stoudemire, Blake Griffin, Carlos Boozer, Chris Kaman, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Tyson Chandler.