NBA into wait and see mode on season resumption

AMERICA’S level of success at overcoming coronavirus and how fast that happens are likely the key factors in deciding when and how the NBA and other sports leagues return.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver imposed an indefinite hiatus on the league season on Wednesday after Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus, with every other major North American sports organisation following quickly.

“We intend to resume the season if and when it becomes safe for all concerned,” said Silver, who predicted the shutdown would last “at least 30 days”.

“In the meantime, we will continue to co-ordinate with infectious disease and public health experts along with government officials to determine safe protocols for resuming our games.”

The hiatus will last until at least April 10, eight days before the scheduled start of the NBA playoffs, but Silver and team owners could extend it, delaying into June or later.

“Even if we’re out for a month, even if we’re out for six weeks, we can still restart the season,” Silver said.

“It might mean that the finals take place in July or late July.”

Other leagues might continue to take their lead from the NBA, the first league with a player testing positive.

“We also recognise that because of how high-profile our players are, others in the public will take their lead from us,” Silver said.

Silver also admitted it’s possible the season will remain unfinished.

“I just don’t know more at this point,” Silver said.

That option would cost the NBA hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcast income from missed playoff games, cutting salary revenue for the 2020-21 season.

“I think every player wants to finish the season,” Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley said.

“What I do know... it’s on the table that the owners want to finish the regular season and (playoffs) ... I got confirmation that they have no problem going late into the summer to finish it up.”

The Chinese Basketball Association shut in late January, but ESPN reported American players in the CBA have been told to return for games to resume in early April.

That timeline of about nine weeks, if duplicated in the NBA’s situation, would see a mid-May resumption, about a month after the originally planned start of the NBA playoffs.