The clock is now ticking for NBA players to inform the league whether they will be participating in the 2019-20 season restart in Orlando, Florida.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the NBA set a June 24 deadline for players to notify their respective teams if they will not be playing in the 22-team season resumption, which takes place at Walt Disney World starting July 30.
Additionally, per Charania, players who decide not to play in the NBA season restart will not face any disciplinary actions by his team and league.
However, players not participating when the NBA restarts its season next month will be facing a reduction in compensation per each game they sit out.
Several players, including high-profile ones, have been abuzz the past couple of weeks about the potential to sit out the season resumption in Orlando due to multiple reasons. In the proposal approved by both the league’s Board of Governors (franchise owners) and National Basketball Players Association (players’ union), 22 teams with the best record will return to play eight seeding games each and potentially a play-in tournament.
Portland Trail Blazers veteran forward Carmelo Anthony recently voiced his concerns about the NBA restart, emphasizing that he still cannot commit 100 percent to the resumption of the season.
Another player voicing dissent is Brooklyn Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving, who highlighted that restarting the season during social upheaval would be a distraction. For what it’s worth, Irving already said that he has no intention to play in Orlando because of his injury, although he initially planned to join the team.
Supporting Irving, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard was also against the season resumption, noting that achieving unity amid these tough times is more important to him than potentially winning his first NBA championship.