Chauncey Billups was due to make $14.3 million this season, so each game lost to the NBA lockout costs the New York Knicks point guard a lot of money.

Yet he's prepared to miss many more game checks -- perhaps an entire season's worth -- while the players' association stands its ground in negotiations with the owners.

"For the betterment of the league going forward, that's just something that I'm going to have to sacrifice and that's kind of the position I'm in," Billups said on ESPN New York 1050's "The Stephen A. Smith Show."

Wednesday marked the 125th day of the NBA lockout. Players and owners are divided on many issues, including how to split league revenue and how to structure the salary cap.

"I'm willing to fight with the union," Billups said. "Do I want to lose $14 million or whatever it might be? I don't want to lose a dime. My career is almost over. I want all of that. But at the same time, I was in that other lockout (in 1998-99) and I know what those older guys were willing to do for me. ... I'm in that position now and that's where I stand."

Late last week, there was optimism that an 82-game season may be salvaged but talks fell apart when the league refused to budge from its proposal of a 50/50 split of basketball-related income and the players held at 52.5 percent.

Shortly thereafter, NBA commissioner David Stern canceled all games through Nov. 30, including Wednesday's Knicks season opener against the Miami Heat.

Billups, 35, who's in the final year of a $60.5 million contract, said he has spoken to "a lot of players" who are willing to sit out the season if it means signing a CBA they feel is fair.