Almost two months after NBA suspended its league indefinitely, they are now looking for possibilities on how the league could resume. Until a few days back, playing the rest of the season in Las Vegas with the players remaining quarantined looked a real possibility. Another possible location that came out to carry out that plan was the Disney Land.
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However, all the options seem to be falling apart with the recent happenings. Reports suggest that the NBA does not want to resume the season until the country undergoes mass COVID-19 testing. A report from ESPN suggests that the NBA wants at least around 15000 tests for themselves.
15000 tests might be possible for an organization like the NBA. However, consuming a large number of testing kits when it is in huge demand might not be justifiable.
As per the latest reports from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, there would still be no testing in the NBA for people without symptoms. However, he does suggest that the testing protocols could change if the NBA thinks about a formal return.
The NBA not wanting to start up again until there are enough tests nationally should really lead every conversation about if we’re getting basketball any time soon. The national response to the pandemic means we’re not close to that right now — and who knows when we will be?
NBA commissioner unsure about league’s resumption
Last month, US President Donald Trump suggested sports need to be back. “We have to get our sports back. I’m tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old,” he said. “But I haven’t actually had too much time to watch. I would say maybe I watch one batter then I get back to work.”
While NBA commissioner Adam Silver agreed that sports need to be back to enhance the economy, he wasn’t sure of it returning.
“We are not in a position to make any decisions, and it’s unclear when we will be,” Silver said last month. I don’t mean to send any signals on the likelihood or not of restarting the season. All I can say is we’re still at a point where we don’t have enough information.”
Without widespread coronavirus testing available to country, NBA remains sensitive on using tests w/ players showing no symptoms entering facilities to start workouts. If/when NBA opens camps for a formal return to play, there's an understanding testing protocols would change.
Sources: As some practice facilities become able to re-open starting Friday, teams are still instructed not to test asymptomatic players for coronavirus. For now, NBA's informed teams of updated measures on cardiac screening for certain players prior to voluntary workouts.
More recently, Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai said that not all the team owners are completely focussed on the resumption of the league. Each of the owners has different opinions on the league’s resumption.
As fans await the league to resume, things certainly do not look great. But amidst a global pandemic, there are bigger things to worry about.