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Report: 'Faction' of NBA Players Discussing Viability of Orlando Restart Plan
June 10, 2020
The NBA's Board of Governors and National Basketball Players Association approved a return-to-play plan last week that would resume the 2019-20 season starting July 31 at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.
SportsCenter @SportsCenterTarget NBA schedule from '19-'20 to '20-'21 season ∙ Training camp - July 9-11 ∙ '19-'20 season - July 31-Oct. 12 ∙ Draft lottery - Aug. 25 ∙ NBA Draft - Oct. 15 ∙ Free agency - Oct. 18 ∙ '20-'21 training camp - Nov. 10 ∙ '20-'21 season start - Dec. 1 (via @wojespn) https://t.co/H1C8N60DKn
But doubt surfaced Wednesday among a "faction of players," and the league and NBPA are "expected to agree on a provision that wouldn't require players" to participate in the remainder of the season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:
Players have been voicing certain concerns, per Wojnarowski:
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespnThe NBA and NBPA are nearing completion on items needed to reach a final agreement on parameters of a return-to-play, sources said. Some players with hesitation have been discussing a number of issues on return, including family concerns, COVID-19, social justice, and more.
The plan only involves the 22 teams within six games of a playoff spot.
The NBA suspended the season on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.
Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press added that "many" players are concerned about being separated from their families for weeks on end.
Wojnarowski relayed on June 5 that the target is for 1,600 people to be in the Orlando bubble at a time with families—"likely three members at a time—allowed to join after the first round of the playoffs.
In terms of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Wojnarowski reported the league is considering how to handle a player with a medical issue:
Teams are currently scheduled to arrive in Orlando between July 9-11 for training camp.