NBA might allow players to opt out of season's restart
(Field Level Media) Not all NBA players are thrilled about the league's plan to restart action in a central Florida "bubble," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday.
As a result, the league and the National Basketball Players Association are working on an agreement to allow players to voluntarily skip the season's resumption with no consequences, according to the report.
A conference call that featured up to 50 players reportedly saw some of the participants express concern about the protocols surrounding the resumption of play at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.
Especially among players on teams that aren't viewed as legitimate threats to reach the NBA Finals, doubts about the plan are surfacing, though they haven't yet risen to the level of the NBPA seeking any protocol changes, per Wojnarowski.
The sentiment is being driven by concern over both the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd on May 25.
Training camp is set to begin in midJuly for the 22 teams that were in playoff position or close to it when the NBA suspended its season on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
Among the major sticking points is the fact that visitors won't be permitted in the "bubble" until the end of the first round of the playoffs, almost seven weeks after players arrive at Disney World, according to the report.
Players who leave the facility reportedly would be subject to a 10-day quarantine upon their return.
Wojnarowski reported that players could undergo a medical exam to be classified as being at high risk of COVID-19, which would grant them permission to stay home. Those without a medical waiver could opt out of the Disney World action by forfeiting their pay for the team's last eight regular-season games, according to the report.
ESPN cited sources as saying fill-in players would be allowed to compete in Orlando in place of any who opt against appearing. In addition, any players who are replaced on the roster because of an injury or because they contract the coronavirus reportedly would not be allowed to resume action this season. (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is starting a group with other black celebrities to work to prevent the suppression of the African-American vote, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
James’ group, More Than a Vote, will be focused on educating and protecting black voters as well as energizing more to show up at the polls for the Nov. 3 U.S. elections, according to the person who declined to speak publicly about the campaign.
“We feel like we’re getting some ears and some attention, and this is the time for us to finally make a difference,” James told the New York Times, which first reported the news.
James and other celebrities expected to participate - including basketball player Trae Young, comedian Kevin Hart and businessman Maverick Carter - will use their social media presence to provide information to voters.
Their plan comes at a time when Americans are concerned about foreign interference in elections, the novel coronavirus has raised questions about voting safely and activist groups are worried about voter suppression.
“There will be an active campaign of suppression,” according to the person familiar with James’ efforts. “These athletes are the most trusted members of their communities.” Apathy, online disinformation campaigns and efforts to restrict voting rights have been blamed for lower black participation in the 2016 elections.
On Tuesday, many people waited for hours to vote in person during Georgia’s tumultuous primary elections, especially in counties with large black populations in and around Atlanta, where dozens of polling stations closed due to coronavirus concerns. James was among a number of high-profile athletes who spoke out after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed last month after being seen lying face down in the street while a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. The incident led to protests worldwide.