Amid a league-wide suspension, players, fans, and executives are wondering when (and if) the 2020 NBA season will resume.
As the coronavirus continues to grow in numbers across the United States, the nation will continue to take steps to try to contain it. Businesses, schools, and large gatherings are being canceled as calls for self-quarantine get louder.
As for the NBA, many wonder if this season will ever be able to return. But, according to Pelicans executive David Griffin, that scenario is not on the NBA’s mind right now.
“I do know unequivocally from all of the different conference calls that the league is holding, the league is very mindful of the idea of getting back to play,” he added. “The idea of canceling a season is not at all on their mind, and I think we’re modeling every possible thing we can for how we can deliver a product to the fans that, quite frankly I think, we’re all going to need a diversion at some point in the future.
“Until we get to a point where we can continue to think we’ve got containment on this, I think we’re going to stay locked down and hopefully we’ll get to a point where we can come back sooner rather than later.”
For many, this news is a relief.
The idea of just canceling the season — without an MVP, without a Champion — just seems wrong, especially after all the work these players have done this year.
On the flip side, the league might have no choice to cancel this season if the coronavirus doesn’t slow down in the next few months. Experts around the world predict this pandemic can continue like this through the summer and, if that’s the case, not even David Griffin will be able to salvage the remainder of this campaign.
