Basketball: Pre-seasons fall to NBA lockout

The NBA has indefinitely postponed next month's training camps and cancelled the first week of pre-season games as it struggles to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with players following the July lockout.

American basketball's elite league, suffering its first work stoppage in 13 years, called off the camps – where rookie players are given skills and information necessary for a successful transition into the league – along with 43 preseason games scheduled for 9-15 October.

"We have regretfully reached [this] point," said the NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. "We will make further decisions as warranted." Since locking out players on 1 July after talks collapsed, the NBA has cut its workforce by 11 per cent. Franchise owners say clubs lost $300m (£190m) last season with 22 of 30 teams in the red.