During the 1998–99 lockout, Falk was often described as the "invisible hand" that guided union negotiations. The NBPA President during the lockout, Patrick Ewing, was a client of Falk's. Falk was also the agent of "nearly half" of the union's 19-member negotiating committee, including Alonzo Mourning, Juwan Howard, and Dikembe Mutombo. Though his presence in negotiations was already assumed, Falk publicly stated in an October 31, 1998 "The New York Times" article that he would "roll up his sleeves and exert as much influence as he (could) behind the scenes... (planning) to take a more proactive role in ending the lockout."