It started with a memo to teams about players adjusting their interactions with fans due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Then there was talk of the NBA possibly playing games without fans in attendance.
With some college basketball tournaments being canceled altogether, the NBA and other American professional sports organizations are trying to navigate through this storm as safely as possible.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA has considered “moving games to neutral cities and sites.” Additionally, the league has considered “eliminating fans from buildings for games or, more drastically, suspending game operations for a period of time.”
As much as players have expressed they understand why the NBA might come to the decision that playing games without fans is the best course of action, some aren’t keen on the idea — DeAndre Jordan being one of those players, per Malika Andrews of ESPN:
It’s very serious, but at the same time, a lot of us play for the love of the game and then also for the fans. That will be extremely tough for us to play a scrimmage. You know, a practice-type scrimmage. But I think the competitive aspect is still there, it’s still alive. But hopefully, we can find a way to put this issue in the past
But even in all the chaos, one thing that will remain a constant: Jordan monitoring Jarrett Allen’s afro.
Oh, I’m still checking the ‘fro. I’m plant-based, so I’m immune to a lot of things.
DeAndre Jordan made sure Jarrett Allen's fro was in tact 😅 pic.twitter.com/B9JssqZ18F
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 29, 2019