The NBA suspended the season earlier this month amid the coronavirus pandemic. Nobody wants the season to be canceled, with NBPA executive director Michele Roberts telling Mark Medina of USA Today that the union is aligned with the league in trying to save the season.
“If you look at our CBA, there is some troubling language if you are a player,” said Roberts. “I’m a lawyer by training and the concept of a ‘force majeure’ is common in any contract. … No matter what differences we may have in the league in the past or going forward, we’re actively on the same page about trying to save our season and trying to save our playoffs.”
The NBA’s Board of Governors met with former U.S. Surgeon General Vivej Murthy earlier today and the stakeholders left the meeting with feelings of optimism that the season will resume before July, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).
“The revenue consequences are significant,” Roberts continued. “Sure, there is language that allows the league to enforce what they perceive to be a ‘force majeure’ and that would have an impact on compensation for players going forward. But if it happens, there would be a recognition the league is prepared to lose tens of millions of dollars. If we can’t play games or we can’t have our playoffs, we’re going to have an economic hit.”
Robert was asked if the conversations with the NBA have been more about trying to save the season than invoking any clause that would alleviate the owners’ financial burden.
“That’s right on the money,” she said. “We want to play games and we want to do it in a way that’s safe. …It’s very difficult to say by ‘X date,’ we’re going to resume the games. That would be foolish. But we’re not throwing in the towel.”
Cancel the season and start as normal in Oct. Screwing with this season means screwing with next season and fans won’t have it. Summer is for baseball not basketball.
You speak for the fans?
No one cares for baseball dude!
Umm, yeah, people do.
clearly stupid idea.
why not continue right into playoffs with current standings?
They still want to play?
I want to! I may never get a contract again and I only scored 5 points in my last game.
Finish the season. I’d rather see the next season delayed if that’s what it takes.
The last third of the season and the playoffs are by far the most exciting part of the NBA cycle.
Extend the season into next season. Cancel the 2020 playoffs and just continue playing until April 2021, see where the standing are then.
That way, some team will definitely break the all-tie wins record, fans like that sort of thing. Single-season records will fall like dominoes.