If Dr. Anthony Fauci thinks your plan is good, that's probably a good sign. As the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci is undoubtedly an expert in his field. After postponing the season in early-March, the NBA has finally proposed a plan and timeline for the league to return to play. When asked what he thought of the NBA's plan to return, Fauci was actually impressed.
“I actually have looked at that plan, and it is really quite creative,” Fauci said in an interview with Stadium. “What they are really trying to do — and I think they might be successful with it — is to create a situation where it is as safe as it could possibly be for the players by creating this bubble. Testing everybody. Making sure that you start with a baseline of everybody being negative and trying to make sure there is no influx into that cohort of individuals and do a tournament-type play.”
The league's plan includes a 22-team format at an isolated location in Orlando. In terms of the timeline, players will be tested for coronavirus on June 22, teams will travel to Orlando on July after a brief training camp and the play-in tournament will begin on July 30 with the start of the playoffs scheduled for August 17.
“It’s not the classic basketball season, but certainly for the people who are thirsting for basketball the way I do, I think it’s a a very safe plan,” Fauci said. “I was very pleased to see the intent was not reckless at all. They really wanted to make sure the safety of the players was paramount.”
Events such as the NBA Draft Lottery and the start of free agency have also been pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic.
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