Worst off-court season in recent memory takes another punch

Golden State star Steph Curry began a tweet, “2020 ain’t it.” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted, “Man we cancelling sporting events, school, office work, etc etc. What we really need to cancel is 2020!”

Those sentiments hit too close to home for the NBA.

It has been a difficult and emotional season, especially with what has happened off the court.

• It started with a tweet from

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, whose support of Hong Kong angered China as NBA teams were playing preseason games there. Those seven words sent into cyberspace on October 4 prompted a political and financial debacle for the league.

• Former commissioner David Stern died on Janaury 1. During his 30-year tenure, his leadership and business savvy helped turn the NBA into a powerhouse.

• NBA icon Kobe Bryant, 41, died on January 26 in a helicopter crash, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others en route to an AAU game.

• The Knicks continue to be the embarrassment of the league and their biggest fan, Oscar winner Spike Lee, threw up his hands and said he wouldn’t attend another game this season after he was denied entrance March 2 at a gate he’s used for years.

• Then came March 11. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, prompting commissioner Adam Silver to suspend the season.

Don’t misunderstand. There have been some compelling and fantastic stories on the court: Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks; James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers; Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers; the defending champion Toronto Raptors’ continued success without Leonard; rookies Ja Morant and Zion Williamson; and the welcomed resurgence of a competitive All-Star Game based on unique scoring changes.

The playoffs are (were?) shaping up to feature exciting matchups.

But the off-the-court circumstances have overshadowed what has happened on the court. This isn’t to equate life and loss of life to things like TV ratings and financial shortfalls, but in totality, this is not the NBA’s best season.

There might not be playoffs. There might not be a Finals. There might not be a 2020 champion.

At best, the league faces the prospect of a shortened season, and Silver acknowledged Thursday that’s it possible games won’t resume.

Even through labor disputes have threatened seasons, the NBA has finished each year with a champion by shortening the season.

A year without a champion would be unprecedented.

Coronavirus threatens more than just the rest of the season and a financial punch for the league and possibly the players. There’s a real trickle down impact on workers, especially part-time arena workers, who rely on games for income.

Yes, some teams and players have stepped in to help provide financial assistance, but that doesn’t account for other events at the arena, such as concerts, where part-time workers earn extra income.

There are scores of contract and independent production freelancers who are hired by national and regional sports networks to ensure games are televised. There are freelance writers and photographers who rely on games for income.

Those are not faceless corporations with deep pockets. Those are real people with families, rent, mortgages, bills.

There are, without question, more important things than games, and Silver recognized that, doing what needed to be done – suspending the season. His move may have prompted other leagues and organizations to cancel or postpone events, helping prevent millions of fans from congregating.

And while Silver will get credit for helping push decisions in the right direction, he may not get a chance to hand the Larry O’Brien championship trophy to a team.

The NBA hoped – and is still hoping – that an exciting playoffs could salvage the season. And maybe it can. Right now, it is working on solutions to resume if conditions allow.

Basketball fans around the world would love it, and so would arena workers and anyone else who derives income from the games.

But much of it is out of the league’s control.

The NBA has time. But not much.

(USA Today/TNS)