The NBA season, a delay or a lost cause?

By Turner Hill

The discovery of a prominent NBA player’s COVID-19 diagnosis quickly led to the NBA suspending its season indefinitely. A few weeks later, the player’s health has returned. But the season may not be so lucky.

Prior to tip off of the Oklahoma City Thunder versus Utah Jazz game in OKC’s arena, Rudy Gobert of the Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus, which quickly led to the game being cancelled. Gobert was not in the arena before testing positive, according to a NBA press release. After originally proposing to have games with only essential team personnel and players, the NBA quickly decided to suspend its season for the safety of all involved.

As of April 1, there are 15 confirmed coronavirus cases in the NBA including superstar Kevin Durant and Knicks owner James Dolan. Multiple players for NBA teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets have tested positive but have chosen to remain anonymous.

The NBA has been widely criticized for being able to receive so many testing kits for its members when the nation was in a shortage of these kits. In response, National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN that health officials are particularly concerned about NBA players considering the high number of people they interact with.

The season suspension has hit organizations hard financially. The Utah Jazz have begun layoffs and salary reductions and were the first to do so. Several other teams considering budget squeezes as well, according to ESPN sources. The Philadelphia 76ers announced they would reduce salaries for those making $50,000 a year, but after internal and external backlash they changed plans. As teams are preparing for the worst, it becomes increasingly likely that they will have to make hard financial decisions.

As the impact of coronavirus spreads, there is mounting pessimism that the NBA will be able to continue their season in any form. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst wrote that “it is clear that the NBA is angling to set up a deal that enables them to shut the season down.” This news will be a devastating blow to fans, players and organizations who had hoped the league would be able to continue the season in some capacity. After reviewing various possibilities, the NBA brass seems to believe that a return may already be a lost cause.