Published 13:10 IST, March 21st 2020
NBA players might not get paid beyond April 1 during ongoing suspension: Report
According to recent reports, the NBA will be paying their players on April 1, but might not do so on April 15 as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
According to recent NBA reports, the NBA will be paying their players on April 1 instead of the usual April 15 date. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has a clause named the 'Force Majeure Event' clause which covers various scenarios like epidemics that the NBA could trigger in times of a 'worst-case scenario'. Other than an epidemic, it is a war or a natural disaster could trigger the clause.
NBA salary: NBA might not pay the players on April 15
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NBA salary: League will provide additional guidance on April 15
If the NBA uses the 'Force Majeure' clause, the NBA players will loose 1/92.6 of their paycheck for every game they miss. After the NBA suspended all league activities on March 11, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that the NBA suspension will extend for at least a month. However, as per the CDC's recommendation, people are to avoid public gatherings of 50 or people.
As a result, the NBA is likely to return in June or later. As COVID-19 cases in the USA are on a rise, playing NBA games without fans is also a slim possibility as a game has players, coaches and staff in attendance.
NBA salary: NBA increases credit line to $1.2 billion
If the NBA return in June, the season could extend till August. Some reports also hint at the NBA cancelling the entire season. As the NBA suspension affects both the owners and players, the NBA has also expanded the NBA credit line to $1.2 billion in order to help the league deal with all the expenses throughout the extended NBA shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Updated 13:10 IST, March 21st 2020