NBA season might be over, but even optimistic owners aren’t expecting play to resume until June.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that the resumption of play and the postseason are gigantic “if” scenarios dependent on whether the United States is successful in its effort to “flatten the curve” and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The CDC issued a recommendation on Sunday night that no events or gatherings should include more than 50 people for the next two months.
For that reason, the NBA is planning to return to play but not expecting any games in June to include fans. The financial ramifications of that decision aren’t yet fully known, but multiple reports indicated the NBA Board of Governors would resume discussions around what’s next for the league this week.
According to ESPN, “the NBA will likely provide projections on three primary scenarios: the financial costs of shutting down the season, re-starting with no fans in the arena, or playing playoff games with fans. Those losses will be reflected in next year’s salary cap, and the players’ share of Basketball Related Income.”
Any escalation of the crisis could shift the NBA’s thinking.
Effective Monday, the NBA cleared players to travel outside of their home market.
Commissioner Adam Silver said player and fan safety will remain at the forefront of all decisions made on any return to play. Silver said last week that the hiatus from games would last at least 30 days.
The NBA calendar and decisions by draft-eligible college basketball players is expected to be addressed this month as well. Typically the NBA draft is held in late June.
G League players are expected to be informed this week that the remainder of their season was canceled. The regular season was due to end in March with the playoffs in April.
–Field Level Media
