NBA is facing multiple crises as reopening nears
Medical. Social. Financial.
These crises have rocked America and are all being taken to account when it comes to the NBA trying to return to action next month.
Medical: The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in more than 2 million cases and more than 110,000 deaths in the United States alone, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Social: The death of George Floyd, a Black man, caused by a white police officer in Minnesota putting a knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds on Memorial Day, has led to nationwide protests demanding change in America that have extended to global cries for racial equality and harmony.
Financial: COVID-19 has led to the shutdown of businesses costing the nation jobs and millions of dollars. Since February, close to 20 million jobs have been lost, according to a University of New Hampshire study.
A closer look at all three issues:
Medical
COVID-19 is why NBA Commissioner Adam Silver put an abrupt hold on the 2019-20 season after Utah Jazz all-star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus March 11.
After weeks of inactivity, the league has reached a point of setting a tentative July 31 return date in Orlando after the NBA’s Board of Governors approved a 22-team format with eight regularseason games and playoffs that are scheduled to end in October with the NBA finals.
Specific guidelines such as playing without fans, daily COVID-19 testing, quarantine and isolation reportedly has some NBA players hesitant about not playing in the bubble at Walt Disney World.
Clearly there are players like LeBron James who want to continue the season, but others like James Harden aren’t in such a rush to return.
In a CNBC appearance last month, Harden said he’d prefer the highly contagious virus shrink “all the way to a minimum” before anyone resumes playing.
Social
Several NBA players have taken to the streets to lead protests and social media to show support. This has quickly become a talking point for some players who’d rather focus their attention of this movement than resume the season.
Kyrie Irving spearheaded a call involving players Friday saying he’d doesn’t “support” going to Orlando and is willing to give up “everything” for social reform, according to The Athletic.
“I’m not with the systematic racism and the bulls--t,” Irving reportedly said. “… Something smells a little fishy. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are targeted as black men every day we wake up.”
Financial
The NBA has lost millions of dollars from missing out on games since March 11 and stand to lose even more if teams do not fulfill local TV contracts (70 games) and forfeit TV playoff money.
The Athletic reported last month $900 million in television revenue would be lost if the NBA canceled the playoffs.
However, the threat of the virus has some people wondering if the financial reward of resuming the season is worth the potential risk of lives for the players, coaches and all parties involved.
If enough rumble is made for the 2019-20 season ultimately to be cancelled, that could do major damage to the collective bargaining agreement moving forward. If nothing else, players might choose to stay home instead of going to Orlando and avoid being disciplined for that decision. Medical. Social. Financial.
All three have crashed and are currently burning through America, and the NBA finds itself in the middle trying to determine how to handle them and survive.