Some executives and agents around the NBA believe the remainder of the 2019/20 season should be canceled, according to Jabari Young of CNBC. As Young explains, there are team owners who are concerned about liability issues relating to COVID-19 and executives who would prefer to focus on safely resuming play for the 2020/21 season.
Additionally, according to Young, some franchise owners believe that so many of the league’s usual revenue streams would be nonexistent even if the season can resume that it may not be worth the risk to attempt it this summer.
“What (owners) are saying is, ‘If we return, where is the revenue that is going to justify the additional cost of returning?'” a team executive said to Young. “They are looking at the cost side versus the revenue side. What revenue comes in now?”
Young also cites player agents who view the eventual cancellation of the season as “inevitable,” including one who said he thought commissioner Adam Silver would have done so by now.
While the CNBC report paints a dreary picture for the possible resumption of the ’19/20 season, it has received some push-back from some executives and owners, as well as from the NBA’s biggest star.
“Saw some reports about execs and agents wanting to cancel (the) season???” LeBron James tweeted this afternoon. “That’s absolutely not true. Nobody I know (is) saying anything like that. As soon as it’s safe we would like to finish our season. I’m ready and our team is ready. Nobody should be canceling anything.”
Of course, there are hundreds of executives and agents working in the NBA, so it’s unlikely they’re all in lock-step on how the league should move forward. It’s certainly possible that Young and James are talking to different people who have different opinions on potential next steps.
Still, Young notes within his piece that a league spokesperson told him that the NBA continues to work on plans to resume play this summer. Spurs CEO R.C. Buford also said that team presidents met on Thursday and the consensus among that group is that they want to try to finish the season (Twitter link via Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press).
A pair of team owners conveyed similar sentiments in TV appearances today — Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said on CNN that he’s “cautiously optimistic” the NBA will be able to resume and complete its season, while Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry, on CNBC, expressed optimism that the playoffs could be held in July or August (video links).
So far, the NBA has been content to remain patient as it waits to see how the coronavirus situation plays out and how government ordinances and health experts’ recommendations evolve. As Marc Stein of The New York Times (via Twitter), there has been no rush to make concrete decisions, since the league wants to “exhaust every last bit of hope.” With the calendar about to turn to May, the NBA will likely need to start taking more decisive action – one way or the other – within the next month or two.
In case you missed them, here are some of this week’s other headlines related to the possible resumption of the ’19/20 campaign:
I get the expense argument from owners but if you don’t play games, couldn’t you lose revenue from the tv deal And local TV advertising.
it feels like baseball wants to move forward, nhl wants to move forward but nba owners focus solely on the money. I mean you have gone 75% of the way. why are some so opposed to finish 25% and rather just jump to net year. next season will still happen even if late
Ya it makes no sense to be 75% the way done and not try crown a champion, even if next season gets delayed significantly the league should be willing to crown a 2020 nba champion all the way until 12/31/2020 or they can be like the nfl and host a championship game next year but crown a winner for the previous year
It’s not like the televised games would not make money.
I doubt next season will happen if this one does not finish, given a lesser motivation for lesser games. Same circumstances will exist– no vaccine, some dying.
Where is the revenue? Duh, TV. Everyone would watch it. Added expense? They’re paying the players anyway. Look at the sources; CNN, CNBC and NYT. Anyone say FAKE NEWS!!
The NBA has zero excuses when they don’t play outdoors. Games can happen every single day of the year.
Just end the season. MLB lost 1994 and it didn’t change history forever. No one needs the NBA right now, its an non essential luxury item just like all sports are. I cannot believe how dumb supposed adults are acting. Anyone who wants to do anything other than stay inside for a month straight is too dumb to get a say in important matters, period.
END. THE. SEASON. NOW.
I agree in part with you. All except calling people dumb for not wanting to stay in side. I do not understand that sentiment. But yes they should just go ahead end the season and focus on draft off season and making full proof plan for 20/21 season. The only people I am sure who want to resume are players and fans with contending teams surely. I understand but its just a sport event over 60,000 people in America died due to corona over the last 3MONTHS. Sports is just not that important. On another note I think the fans wont be back to the arena for over a year or 2 anyway so might as well work out a full proof plan to have a season with televised games and isolated arenas only.
1. 1994 was a strike with no contract to play. this is a Pandemic. the end result could be the same but the circumstances are different.
2. arguably it did change some baseball history forever. the people in Montreal would argue that it killed any chance their franchise had of surviving. the Washington Nationals maybe don’t exist if Montreal wins the world series that year.
3. sports aren’t essential you are right but, in the instance they could get a month or two of games in around August/July in closed arenas, why not finish your season?
it would look bad on the nba if the NHL finished their season or MLB ran an abbreviated season and they didn’t finish. again it’s not imperative if it means risking health but this sounds like owners not arguing it’s dangerous but rather it’s money spent they can’t earn from fans.
It’s not “a month straight”. It is many months and this cannot be a semi-permanent state. Indeed it is already changing, with stay-in-place orders being repealed.
It’s different between city & country. Around here most people don’t wear face covers. In general one is more likely to find covid19 inside than outside.
I think the city-dwelling MSM is comfortable being a leader for isolation living, but BB is possible.
I believe what Buford, Cuban, Lasry & LBJ say, all the anonymous sources & reports all nothing but lies, always, if it is true you put your name next to it. Sources are just excuses to print lies.
#SEASON.WILL.FINISH.WITH.CHAMPION