As of 3:30pmCT the National Basketball Association has officially ‘locked out’ the players.

Union chief Billy Hunter said Thursday “its obvious the lockout will happen tonight” after the owners and the players failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) today.

This of course could be the ENTIRE 2011-12 NBA season in jeopardy!

The current CBA expires tonight at midnight and the two sides (owners-players) are said to be extremely far apart on a new deal.  David Stern has said that the NBA may unfortunately be forced to impose a lockout—the first since the 1998-99 season.

The Summer League—held in Las Vegas has already been cancelled, preseason games in Europe were never scheduled.  The players will also have to decide whether they want to risk playing in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournaments.  The risk being—the NBA won’t secure insurance in case of an injury.

Training camps normally open the last week of September to which the NBA regular season begins around a month later.  With news of this lockout—a shortened NBA season or NO NBA season may happen!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned all year round for TWolves and NBA news, information and updates.  GO WOLVES!