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NBA Re-Start In Serious Jeopardy With Players Clearly Not on Board

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24 July 2016: USA (10) Kyrie Irving celebrates after putting up a last second shot before the half during the USA Basketball Showcase exhibition game between China and USA at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire)

As reported yesterday by Chris Spags, a large group of NBA players is organizing against the league’s season re-start plan. On Friday night, star Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving organized a conference call that included more than 80 NBA and WNBA players to discuss the issue. The players were on the call for over an hour and forty minutes, discussing the potential ramification of Covid-19 and the social unrest in support of racial justice. At one point Kyrie is reported to have told his colleagues that he is “willing to give up everything” that he has for social reform.

The current NBA plan involves creating a “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, where players from 22 teams, team staff and limited family would be strictly tested and quarantined throughout the season. The logistics of doing this in any safe way in a state still setting record numbers for new cases on a daily basis are nearly beyond comprehension. This, naturally, has players very concerned for their health and safety.

The other issue was how the players would be viewed and whether they should take the opportunity to sit out the season re-start to draw attention to the widespread struggle against racial injustice that is currently gripping the nation. The players clearly realize they have a major platform and are trying to figure out the best way to approach things.

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Sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports that the players discussed a wide range of topics “from their roles in combating systemic racism to investing in black communities.” A number of other big names joined Kyrie in voicing their desire to not go to Orlando, for either health or social concerns. Players joining the growing chorus of nos included Irving, Carmleo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Donovan Mitchell.

A primary source of anger for players is that there was no league-wide vote on the restart, with NBA Player’s Association reps casting the deciding votes. C.J. McCollum of the Blazers revealed that he had voted against the re-start, but ultimately favored showing up in Orlando to protect the player’s negotiating position in future collective bargaining talks. Players are also extremely concerned that the NBA is yet to present an actual program for testing and control, believing that they had accepted a framework and not an official plan.

Other players seem less concerned and just want to get on the court.

While other young players, according to the Magic’s Mo Bamba, are afraid to voice their opinions in either direction on the veteran-laden Zoom calls, for fear of saying the wrong thing and creating a stigma that will be with them through their careers.

The King still wants to play ball. He has rings to win after all. LeBron James was the most noteworthy name to skip the call that included other powerful players like Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. LeBron spoke with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, telling Amick that he didn’t believe restarting the season would have any impact on his ability to inspire social change, and believes he can do that and play basketball at the same time. For his part, LeBron has not only been outspoken on these issues but is also joining other star athletes in forming a voting rights working group, aimed at protecting the rights of African American voters.

These discussions are going to just heat up from here and the NBA season re-start people seem to be taking for granted is now in serious jeopardy. The players have a strong point here. Not only are they risking their safety and the well-being of their families, they are being asked to ignore one of the biggest opportunities that they’ve ever had to speak out and force social change.

He might have some strange ideas about the shape of the planet, but he’s on point about the shape of the people. I’m with Kyrie.

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