A team's radio studio host says losing the season would cost him $11,125. That's the final straw, considering his wife was laid off from her job at a bank a year ago.

"We've been struggling to make house and car payments," he said. "The NBA money would help us catch up on those, but I'm still going to have file for bankruptcy for a credit card loan I've defaulted on due to the missed money so far."

Denver radio producer Jesse Thomas says no Nuggets games will cost him half his salary this year or $23,500.

"I am now faced with the tough decision of waiting this out or finding a new gig," Thomas said.

Ticket sales refunds have also hurt those selling them, including those tickets they've already sold.

A premium ticket sales executive with a southwest division team tells CNBC that he has lost more than $7,000 in commissions in the first two months, as teams have had to give back money for games not played. That's a big deal considering, in a normal year, he makes three times his base salary of $18,000 in commissions.

Not playing also means that sponsors won't be making payments. A corporate sales executive for a Western Conference team says told CNBC that he stands $40,000 if a single NBA game isn't played. That's more than 30 percent of his total income.

The Houston Rockets laid off a whole department of 13 sales executives in the summer. One employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he had to move back to his home state of Kentucky since he couldn't draw unemployment and his wife was making only $9 an hour as a kindergarten teacher.

Arena workers are also losing the extra cash.

David Johnson sells beer at the United Center for Bulls and Blackhawks games to make ends meet while trying to make a career in sports radio. Now he's only working hockey games. While he typically earns more for Blackhawks games ($200), he figures he'll lose north of $6,000 if the Bulls don't play a season.

This would have been Michael Chernow's third season as the ballboy for the Philadelphia 76ers.

"While the paycheck I get from the 76ers isn't the main source of income for me, seeing the players complain about the millions they want is very upsetting to someone making $7.15 (an hour)," Chernow said.

Companies that make money off NBA teams are also suffering. Fast Model Sports works with more than 95 percent of the teams in the NBA. It's yearly scouting report software generates more than $200,000 in revenue from NBA teams that will now be lost.

Yes, the NBA lockout is about millionaires fighting billionaires, but it's also about so many others whose livelihood depends on the game.

"The lockout really could not have happened at a worse time on top of all the economic pressure we've had," said Boston bar owner Scott Noguiera.

To tell your personal NBA lockout story to CNBC and CNBC.com, email us at lockoutstories@gmail.com.

Correction:Fabricated material originally included in this story has been removed.