To play or not to play a tough question
A handful of players are opting out of playoffs for health and family reasons
Once the NBA playoffs start, teams depend on their players to fight through injuries. They also expect players to forget about any personal problems once they step on the court.
But with the NBA about five weeks away from resuming this season, it is unrealistic and unfair for any team to hold its players to this standard. Not under these circumstances.
No longer are players concerned only about whether they can win an NBA championship. With the league planning to host its season in Florida, a current coronavirus hot spot, players are more worried about their lives. They are worried about spending between two to three months either without seeing their family or potentially putting them in harm’s way. And they are worried about whether sitting out or playing would give them the biggest platform to speak on racial inequalities as social justice demonstrations continue across the country.
It should surprise no one that a handful of players have already informed their team they will sit out when the NBA resumes its season on July 30.
Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans will sit out to ensure he remains healthy entering his free agency negotiations after having two ACL injuries. Portland Trail Blazers forward Trevor Ariza will sit out after the mother of his 12-year-old son granted a court-ordered, one-month visitation period. And Los Angeles Lakers forward Avery Bradley will sit out, telling ESPN that his six-yearold son could have experienced health issues in a bubble environment because of his history with respiratory illnesses. More players were expected to opt out Wednesday, when they were expected to notify their team and the NBA players union.
Two players, Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon and Sacramento forward Jabari Parker, revealed Wednesday that they have tested positive for the coronavirus. Both expect to with their teams next month.
Will the other absences put the NBA season in jeopardy? Not necessarily. The NBA and the union would not have agreed to resume the season had they sensed the majority of players would sit out. Lakers centre Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams are among the healthy and notable players who have signalled they might sit, too, to keep their focus on protesting racial inequality. But those in NBA circles still believe the majority of the stars plan to play to pursue a championship, salvage some of their financial earnings and use that platform to speak out on racial issues.
None of the current absences should change the landscape drastically. With the Wizards (24-40) trailing the Orlando Magic (30-35) by 5 1⁄2 games for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot, it is unlikely Washington could sneak in with only eight regular-season games left.
The Trail Blazers (29-37) have a better shot at securing the eighth seed in the Western
Conference, since they trail the Memphis Grizzlies (32-33) by only 3 games. Ariza would have enhanced Portland’s playoff hopes with his perimeter defence. But that would have only set up a first-round exit against the top-seeded Lakers (49-14).
No doubt, Bradley’s absence will test the Lakers’ championship mettle without his prized perimeter defence. Regardless of whether the Lakers sign J.R. Smith or anyone else as Bradley’s replacement, their title fortunes still largely rest on how healthy and efficient LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain.
But these players sitting out are not quitting on their team when they need them the most. Instead, they are placing higher priority on the health and wellbeing of both themselves and close ones.
All of these players might be vulnerable to varying degrees of pay cuts. But the NBA and its players union established that no player would face any discipline or a contract termination. During this environment, NBA teams should support these decisions.