With no guarantee that fans will be allowed in arenas for the upcoming 2020/21 NBA season, Harvey Araton of the New York Times discussed the tenuous future of courtside seating. Regular Knicks courtside celebrity Spike Lee appeared uncertain of the fate of indoor NBA fan attendance.
“I’m not going to predict the future — taking it day by day,” Lee texted Araton. “I have to see where we are in the world when the next NBA season starts.”
There’s more from around the basketball world:
- The remote meetings necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic are largely responsible for Iona’s eight-player recruiting class, according to the Gaels’ new head coach, Rick Pitino. “If it wasn’t for [COVID-19], we couldn’t have brought in the largest recruiting class in my history as a basketball coach,” Pitino said, per Adam Zagoria of Forbes. “I think six out of the eight did not know where Iona was, what county or what state it was in. So COVID helped us in recruiting.”
- G League Ignite team head coach Brian Shaw spoke with The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears about the unique opportunities provided him with this newly formed club, which will help prepare top prospects like Jalen Green for the NBA. “High draft picks come in at 18, 19, 20 years old, and there’s an expectation level for them to play and to impact the team,” Shaw said. “And it felt like a lot of the guys [were] missing a lot. They’re talented and have a lot of potential, but have no understanding of what it takes to be a pro on and off the court.”
- A panel of ESPN writers appraised the biggest trade and free agency questions facing the league heading into this offseason. Key topics include the impending decision of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding a five-year, super-max extension, the question of whether or not the Warriors will trade the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, and the fate of Chris Paul.
Why do fans care about the “lost court side camaraderie” of celebs not getting court side seats?
Same reason Keeping Up With The Kardashians lasted as long as it did and why Instagram influencers are a thing…
I have a feeling that the G League Ignite will ruin more careers than it will help. It just feels like taking advantage of guys that are blinded by money and feel they have no other choice. I could be wrong, I have been before, but I could also be correct as well.
The elites will be able to be on the sidelines after taking their vaccine/adrenochrome shot before entering the arena. Don’t worry about them, they’ll be fine.
COVID definitely helped Pitino in recruiting. He could take advantage of the vast supply of internet porn and just buy people subscriptions instead of needing to hire live strippers for recruits.