The National Basketball Association is eliminating 80 jobs in the United States. It is the first major American sports league to announce layoffs because of the worldwide
economic meltdown.
Commissioner David Stern told the
Associated Press the league would cut about 9% of the American workforce in anticipation of the downturn.
“We made the decision some months ago that the economy was going to be a bit wobbly, so we began a belt-tightening,” Stern said in London, where the New Jersey Nets beat the Miami Heat in a preseason game.
Stern emphasized that the league is still hitting its business targets.
The NBA continues to hire in other countries as it grows internationally.