The NBA and NBPA approved the league’s return-to-play plan last week, but there is a growing concern about returning to the floor amid recent events.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported a “faction” of players recently held a conference call to discuss whether the “bubble” idea was really a good idea. Wojnarowski said “several dozen” players participated in the call.
Wojnarowski also reported a number of players are taking multiple factors into account, from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to social unrest with respect to racial injustices and police brutality.
Sources: As NBA and NBPA are finalizing terms on return-to-play plan today, there’s a faction of players discussing as a group whether restarting season in the Orlando bubble is a good idea. Several dozen players participated in a conference call in last 24 hours to discuss it.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2020
The NBA and NBPA are nearing completion on items needed to reach a final agreement on parameters of a return-to-play, sources said. Some players with hesitation have been discussing a number of issues on return, including family concerns, COVID-19, social justice, and more.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2020
Woj is essentially confirming speculation that first arose this past weekend.
Former NBA forward and “All The Smoke” podcast host Matt Barnes previously said he had spoken to a number of players on the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, some of whom expressed the sentiment the league should consider canceling the season.
Though some basketball fans might show some skepticism at the players seemingly recanting after approving a return-to-play plan, there are other factors to consider.
For starters, NBA players from a myriad of teams have been participating in—and even leading—protests throughout the country in the last week. Guys like Jaylen Brown, Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan even returned home so as to speak out against racial inequities.
Of course, it is still somewhat unlikely the players would come to a consensus on canceling the season entirely. The NBA might consider offering the players something of an opt-out in the event they feel uncomfortable playing, but an outright cancelation would be a massive loss (in every sense of the word) for all parties: players, owners and fans.
Follow Us
Subscribe