High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT (4:01 am UTC) on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap. During the lockout, teams cannot trade, sign or contact players and players can`t access NBA team facilities, trainers or staffs. All preseason games and the first six weeks of the 2011–12 season through December 15, have been canceled. Some players have signed contracts to play in other countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, and most players have the option to return to the NBA as soon as the lockout ends. On November 26, the players and owners reached a tentative deal, including a 66-game season, with games commencing on December 25. Owners allowed players to have voluntary workouts at team sites starting December 1. The lockout will end when the players, represented by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), ratify a deal with the NBA owners.