The NBA will be back soon… on the small screen. After the bosses of the League, the players have indeed given their approval and validated the project of Adam Silver: a recovery in a bubble at Disney World, near Orlando, behind closed doors. First whistle blows on July 30. Not all players, however, are just the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) line. And in particular the American international Kyrie Irving.
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As reported by The Athletic, more than 80 players spoke on Friday during a call. Among them, several vice-presidents of the players' association, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Donovan Mitchell and Avery Bradley. And therefore "Uncle Drew". Several basketball players are said to have expressed doubts about health issues, in relation to the coronavirus, in particular regarding the porosity of the bubble. We know that Disney employees will be able to come and go ... But it was also and above all about social issues, discrimination and racism, and therefore the crisis that is shaking the United States after the death of the African-American George Floyd, on May 25, in Minneapolis. “I do not support the recovery in Orlando. I'm not for systemic racism and that crap. It smells bad, ”said Irving.
Wait what? https://t.co/4ZCm5DxgjQ
- Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) June 12, 2020LeBron James wants to both play and make his voice heard
The native of Melbourne would not be the only one to have doubts. According to Dwight Howard, "playing Orlando will become a distraction from the problems the country faces." Carmelo Anthony would have proposed to the players present to donate $ 25,000 to an association of their choice. And a "respected player" to estimate, via ESPN : "Once we start playing basketball again, the news will pass from systemic racism to" who did what "in the match of the day before. This is a crucial moment for us to be able to play and incorporate this to have an impact on what is happening in our communities. We ask ourselves, "Where and how can we have the greatest impact?". Mental health is also part of the discussion, and how we will manage it all in a bubble. ”
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Obviously, not everyone is opposed to the recovery in the NBA. Far from it. Besides, LeBron James, who was not part of this meeting, wants to resume. The King is not deaf to social issues, as we know. And he also intends to act for the common good while playing, as The Athletic points out . “He wants to continue to have an impact off the field, but he wants to play basketball, assure our colleagues. As has always been the case, he clearly believes he can do both at the same time. ” A position that would be shared by many superstars, eager to play and fight for the title. And the Lakers are obviously among the favorites.
Stop it ...... https://t.co/1pGMxN0ap3
- Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) June 13, 2020Quoted among players who could refuse to play in Orlando, Donovan Mitchell brushed aside the idea of a simple tweet (see above). Moreover, and this was underlined during the call on Friday, a permanent end to the season would have enormous consequences for the players in terms of finances. This would amount to hundreds of millions of dollars in lost wages, or even more than a billion in 2019-20. In addition, the bosses could blow up the collective agreement (CBA) and drastically reduce income for the coming seasons in view of the economic situation of the country, and therefore of the NBA. Under the current plan, the season, which has been stopped since March 11 due to coronavirus, must end on October 13 at the latest. 22 teams are invited to Florida, with eight regular season games per club before attacking the play-offs.
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