Heat's Pat Riley Says 'We Have to Rely on the Science' for When NBA Can Resume

Miami Heat president Pat Riley does not know if the NBA will return for the 2019-20 season, but he said the league has to "rely on science" in making its decision.

"We're waiting for probably the most challenging decision that Adam Silver and his staff, not only in our sport but in every other sport [has made]," Riley said in a video posted to the team's Twitter account Friday. "He is being very cautious. I think that's great, and he's going to rely on the science. I think we have to rely on the science because this will be an unprecedented move when he decides to start this thing back up."

The NBA indefinitely postponed its season March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. Nearly every major sports league in the United States has followed suit as the pandemic has put a halt on regular day-to-day life for most Americans.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said April 17 the league is not in any position to determine the likelihood of resuming the season. Silver noted that no decision is expected anytime soon. 

"I don't mean to send any signals about the likelihood or not of restarting the season," Silver told reporters. "All I can say is we're still at a point where we don't have enough information to make a decision."

The NBA has explored several concepts to restart the season, including a proposal that would have teams sequestered in Las Vegas to play games without fans. None of the proposals have gotten past the planning stage, with Silver pledging to listen to scientific guidance.

A number of states have begun opening their businesses after President Donald Trump "indicated many states can re-open by May 1," per CNN. Most still have social-distancing protocols in place, though, and the NBA would likely be unable to resume without the measures being lifted in states where its teams are located.

As of Saturday, the United States has more than 906,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 52,042 deaths.