NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association has locked out its referees for the upcoming exhibition games, the league announced on Friday.

The NBA and the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) broke off talks to negotiate a new contract on Friday.

The NBA will use development league referees in the pre-season and, if negotiations don't resume and a new contract is not finalized, possibly in the regular season as well.

"The proposals we have made to the NBRA are extraordinarily fair and reasonable, given the current economic circumstances, said NBA spokesman Rick Buchanan.

"Since late 2008, the league and our teams have made far deeper cuts in non-referee headcount and expenses than we are asking for here. It is extremely disappointing that the NBRA has ignored the economic realities, rejected our offer, and left us with no choice but to begin using replacement referees."

The preseason begins on October 1 and regular-season games are slated to begin on October 27.

The NBA says the referees current salaries would have remained the same, but were wanting to reduce costs through benefit and travel changes.

The referees union voted 57-0 to reject the NBA's offer.