NBA's next steps hinge on US results in virus fight

America's level of success at overcoming coronavirus and how fast that happens are likely key factors in deciding when and how NBA and or sports leagues return. NBA commissioner Adam Silver imposed an indefinite hiatus on league season on Wednesday after Utah's Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus, with every or major rth American sports organization following quickly. "We intend to resume season if and when it becomes safe for all concerned," Silver said, who predicted shut down would last "at least 30 days."  "In meantime, we will continue to coordinate with infectious disease and public health experts along with government officials to determine safe protocols for resuming our games." 

hiatus will last to at least April 10, eight days before scheduled start of NBA playoffs, but Silver and team owners could extend it, delaying resumption of campaign into June or later. "Even if we're out for a month, even if we're out for six weeks, we can still restart season," Silver said. "It might mean that finals take place in July or late July." Or leagues might continue to take ir lead from NBA, first league with a player testing positive.

"We also recognize that because of how high-profile our players are, ors in public will take ir lead from us," Silver said. Silver also admitted it's possible season will remain unfinished. "Of course it's possible," Silver said. "I just don't kw more at this point." 

That option would cost NBA hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcast income from missed playoff games, cutting salary revenue for 2020-21 season. "I think every player wants to finish season," Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley told Arizona's KMVP radio. "What I do kw... it's on table that owners want to finish regular season and (playoffs)... I got confirmation that y have problem going late into summer to finish it up."  Chinese Basketball Association shut down in late January, but ESPN reported American players in CBA have been told to return for games to resume in early April. That timeline of about nine weeks, if duplicated in NBA's situation, would see a mid-May resumption, about a month after originally planned start of NBA playoffs.

NBA talent at Tokyo?

That could push NBA Finals into July and up against Tokyo Olympics, where a US squad of NBA stars is set to compete July 24-August 9 for a fourth consecutive gold medal. A 12-man US roster of NBA talent is usually named just ahead of training camp in early July in Las Vegas. If Olympics take place as planned and NBA playoffs are extended, it might prevent top players from going to Tokyo if ir teams make deep post-season runs.

It might keep LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard from Japan but Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Bradley Beal and Kevin Love are US team finalists whose clubs aren't in playoff spots. Green told Athletic he doesn't expect a return anytime soon. "If y start season back up and n somebody else catches it, n what?" Green said. "You can't just quarantine a few guys for some days and n start it all back up. That... ain't going to work." 

How to resume?

As for resumption ideas, NBA could play an abbreviated finish to regular season n playoffs, finish last month of campaign before playoffs or return directly to playoffs based on results from before shutdown, even with an uneven number of games. length of each playoff round could be trimmed from a best-of-seven series and possibly start of 2020-21 campaign could be delayed to allow for a rmal-length off-season. Pushing back playoffs could delay NBA Draft, set for late June, as well as free ncy and start of next season -- an idea some like. Atlanta Hawks chief executive Steve Koonin told ESPN before shutdown his idea of starting NBA season at Christmas with August finals to avoid TV ratings juggernaut NFL.

Im credits: AP