Honestly, does anyone give a shit that they aren't going to play? I've been an NBA fan for 30 years, but college basketball is a more exciting product anyway and I frankly couldn't care less if I never see another pro basketball game. This is just turning me off more. I can only imagine what the casual fan thinks. There has been a disconnect since MJ retired anyway -- this is just going to drive people further and further away from their already fading product.
This isn't the NFL. I wonder what kind of fanbase this league will come back to once the pissing match finally gets resolved.