The NBA season has been suspended for more than a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still without a timetable for a return, the NBA and the NBA Players’ Association have agreed on a plan to cut player salaries starting next month.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, both sides reached an agreement to withhold 25% of each player’s paycheck starting on May 15. As part of the deal, players will see a gradual reduction in their salary if the NBA needs to implement its Force Majeure provision, which would come into play if the entire season is canceled.
Players are set to lose a significant amount of their salaries if the 2019-’20 season is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During negotiations for how NBA owners would pay players during the shutdown, the league initially proposed players taking a 50% reduction in salary.
Both sides a found middle ground with a tentative agreement that will start at a 25% reduction in salaries starting on May 15 and slowly increase as the NBA’s indefinite suspension continues.
Fortunately, there is some good news for everyone. Optimism for the NBA season to return is increasing across the league with team owners and players more confident the NBA returns this year.
The NBA is looking into rapid COVID-19 test kits that could potentially help basketball return sooner. The league has also discussed resuming the season in Las Vegas, with all teams quarantined and playing in different spots across the city.
While we’re still likely a few months away from a potential NBA return, the agreement by both sides shows they can come together to hopefully bring basketball back by the summer.