NBA players were scheduled to receive their first paychecks for the 2011-21012 season on Tuesday, but nothing arrived, because no collective bargaining agreement in place.
NBA players lost on average $220,000 because of the negotiating impasse, according to CNBC.
Under the previous collective bargaining agreement, most players received 1/12th of their salaries on Nov. 15 of each season.
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On Monday, the players' union rejected the owners' offer and plans to disband its union through a "disclaimer of interest."
The union invited several writers to its New York offices on Tuesday so it can explain why it made the move, ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reported.
NBA commissioner David Stern, in an interview on ESPN, criticized the union for not letting its membership vote of the oweners' proposal.
The decision to seek a disclaimer surprised many of the agents who pushed for decertification of the union.