The NBA is on at least a 30-day hiatus thanks to the pandemic coronavirus, but the remainder of the season is in jeopardy.
Commissioner Adam Silver made an appearance on the set of TNT's “Inside the NBA,” during which he admitted the possibility the season could be canceled:
Adam Silver on the NBA season being completely canceled – "Of course it's possible. I just don't know more at this point."
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 13, 2020
While this would be devastating news for basketball fans, it is likely the most sensible reaction from Silver at this point in time.
The full scope of COVID-19 is still relatively unknown, and Wednesday's revelation that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive made the issue all the more real for the league.
There are also other complications even if play is resumed. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker asked all Chicago sports owners to either cancel their games or play without fans until at least May 1:
Gov. Pritzker says he's asked all Chicago sports team owners to cancel games or play without fans until May 1st.
— Kevin Powell (@kpowell720) March 12, 2020
Moreover, it remains unknown whether other league personnel have become infected.
Multiple NBA teams are issuing self-quarantine mandates, while the league has instructed players and coaches from all 30 squads to remain in their given market. There are also a number of referees who may have been exposed in recent days.
Aside from Silver assessing the plausibility of a league-wide shut down for the remainder of the year, “Inside the NBA” commentator Charles Barkley was absent from the set. Barkley phoned in with news he was also in self-quarantine after being tested for coronavirus, though the results of the test are not yet known.
Silver has been decisive in recent days. He is also brutally honest and forthright.
If the league does not receive more positive information in the next 30 days, Silver might well put an end to the 2019-20 campaign.
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