Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is hopeful that the 2019-20 NBA season will resume by “the middle of May.” Cuban and the Mavs were the first team to donate money to its arena workers during the work stoppage.
During an interview with WFAA-TV, Cuban said he was proud of NBA commissioner Adam Silver for the way he responded to this whole pandemic. The Mavs owner also remains optimistic that games will be played in the near future.
“Hopefully by the middle of May, we're starting to get back to normal and the NBA is playing games,” Mark Cuban said. “Maybe not with fans, but we're playing it because sports plays such an important role. you know, people want something to cheer for people want something to rally around, people want something to be excited about.
“I'm proud of Adam Silver. I'm proud of the NBA and the way we've reacted. I think we've led the way, and hopefully will lead the way out of this. I mean you know no one has perfect information right now, and so all decisions are tough. But, you know, if I had to guess based off the people I've talked to at the CDC and other places — I would say that the over under would be June 1, and I'm taking the under.”
Silver suspended the season immediately after Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. We have seen a handful of other players and members of the NBA test positive since then.
The Mavs, led by Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, had a record of 40-27 before play was suspended. They were in seventh place in the Western Conference standings.
If the season resumes, the Mavs would have 15 games left in the regular season. Dallas was shooting for making the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016.