As the NBA starts to ramp-up its schedule toward the 2019-’20 season returning, cases of COVID-19 are skyrocketing across the country. Yet even with the NBA’s plan to have 24 teams play in Florida, where cases are soaring each day, it seems nothing will stop the league’s return.
NBA’s return in Orlando considered “too big to fail”
NBA teams are set to allow their coaching staff and four players to use the practice facility at the same time on Tuesday. It marks a major step towards a return, with teams scheduled to take the court for the first game in Walt Disney World on July 30.
However, many players around the league remain significantly concerned about the timing of the NBA’s return. Florida reported nearly 3,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday and they have now eclipsed 100,000.
In addition to fears for exposure to COVID-19, which carries long-term health risks, many players also have other issues. Some NBA athletes want to focus on supporting protesting across the United States to creat police reform.
Meanwhile, as we saw with the first player now sitting out the NBA’s return, there are also concerns over injury risk at a time of financial uncertainty for the league.
Yet, despite key issues within the NBA’s own plan to resume the season, it looks like there is too much momentum to stop it.
this from, everybody I talk to right now, is too big to fail right now,” Brian Windhorst said, via SportsCenter (H/T RealGM). “The overwhelming majority of players are excited. They want to be there. They know there’s going to be positive tests as they start entering the bubbles with their teams.
As a result, we are likely headed for NBA teams to arrive in Orlando in a matter of weeks. After that, the wheels will be in motion and every team will be ready to play basketball.
The NBA is prepared for some players to test positive for COVID-19 when the season resumes. While they’ll try to keep playing, that could all change given how bad this pandemic has become.