After COVID-19 infiltrated the NBA’s front-lines, Adam Silver was given no choice but to shut everything down.
As the virus rampages the U.S., more and more cases continue to emerge, including more athletes. As of now, the poll stands at 11 for the NBA — with players such as Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and Kevin Durant being confirmed positive.
At this point, there is no questioning that Silver made the right call in indefinitely suspending the season, but it doesn’t change the fact that it will likely cost the league a billion dollars.
Ben Golliver of The Washington Post recently laid down the consequences of the NBA’s hiatus this season.
The spread of the novel coronavirus, which forced the NBA to suspend its season last week, presents an even greater financial challenge to the league. It could push the NBA’s revenue hit past the $1 billion threshold, according to team executives and media estimates, should the rest of the regular season and postseason be canceled. For a league that had enjoyed a decade of prosperity, the combination of the Hong Kong controversy and the coronavirus crisis represents an unprecedented and wholly unexpected financial challenge.
Amid injuries to several key players, NBA ratings were already down this season, with records showing a decline in viewership for almost every major network.
Add that alongside the China controversy, and it’s clear to see why this Coronavirus crisis was the last thing the NBA needed. While there is still hope that the season can return, nobody knows how things will play out moving forward.
Indeed, it seems we are all treading uncharted waters.
