There have been a handful of updates floating around about the NBA’s upcoming return, and we’ve gathered some of the most interesting. Be warned, though: it’s a list that will play with your mood as some will get you more pumped, while others will frustrate you.
Earlier return date
The NBA has announced that it is targeting an earlier start date by one day. From the original July 31st date, it’s now hoped to be July 30th (July 31st in Manila time).
With the eight regular season games being expected to be held in rapid succession, the move could mean an extra day off for a handful of teams. It may prove vital as conditioning issues are a concern following the players’ unexpected lay-off.
The NBA is targeting a slightly earlier date for the restart of the season in Orlando, sources tell ESPN: July 30.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 11, 2020
TNT’s broadcasting plans
Beloved longtime play-by-play guy Kevin Harlan recently shared TNT’s broadcasting plans for the restart’s unusual set-up. Although he and other TNT in-game regulars (Reggie Miller and Chris Webber, among others) won’t be in the actual arena in Orlando, Harlan claimed that they will make it as authentic as possible:
“What I’ve heard from the folks at TNT is we will be in the studios in Atlanta and they will set up as close to possible a broadcast table like we would have courtside … We will have, I’m assuming, crowd noise pumped into our headsets.”
“For the viewer, I don’t think it’s going to seem dramatically different … [The look of the floors are] going to be a little bit weird, but if we’re all just kind of sitting there watching, I don’t know that we’ll really notice a great deal of difference.”
Players are thinking of sitting out
While team owners favoured the league office’s restart plan to the tune of a 29-1 landslide vote, it now appears that a growing number of players are starting to express concerns on the plan’s overall make-up.
According to ESPN senior reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA and its players association have also discussed the matter.
Sources: As NBA and NBPA are finalizing terms on return-to-play plan today, there’s a faction of players discussing as a group whether restarting season in the Orlando bubble is a good idea. Several dozen players participated in a conference call in last 24 hours to discuss it.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2020
The 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.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2020
Among the known players that are hesitant are Portland Trail Blazers stars Damian Lillard, whose main concern is fair play for the in-the-hunt teams, and Carmelo Anthony, who, like many others, are reluctant due to the dangers of COVID-19.
Portland's Carmelo Anthony to @TurnerSportsEJ:
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 11, 2020
"As far as actually playing … I'm still up in the air a little bit because we don't have all the details. We don't know a lot of information, so until we have that, it's kind of hard to just commit to it 100 percent"
Then, according to retired NBA veteran Matt Barnes, now co-host of the All The Smoke podcast, a couple of LA Clippers are actually in favor of just cancelling the season.
The health risks are indeed scary so while it is very, very, frustrating to hear, the players’ concerns are easy to understand. For now, all we can do is hope that everyone ultimately gets on board.
Let’s end it on a higher note. There are players who are very much looking forward to finishing the season.
We have to wash away some of that negativity. Here’s two All-Star big men feeling and looking confident in the upcoming return:
First is Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid boasting about his team’s training regimen:
“We’ve been going at it for the past four weeks, about six times a week, just trying to get a head start, and get ready for whatever’s coming. I have something to prove, and I feel like whenever that opportunity comes, it’s going to be my time.”
Second, it’s Nikola Jokic finally confirming the reports that he got very slim during quarantine, which is an added warning about the Denver Nuggets’ true potential:
THIN JOKIC ALERT
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 11, 2020
(???? by @Breza89)pic.twitter.com/WYwpDSZ5cQ
Then, of course, you got the well-documented ones, highlighted by LeBron James. The man is a gym rat as he’s always been, and he might be more focused than ever since his championship window is dwindling now at the age of 35. In fact, his private practices with teammates allegedly started over a month ago.
Finally, there’s the Boston Celtics, who were seen working out earlier this week. It featured Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward.
All NBA teams have been given a green light to open their practice facilities, and all 30 have officially re-opened it for their players this week.