Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers isn’t on board with the recent suggestion by Kyrie Irving that NBA players shouldn’t resume the 2019-20 season amid ongoing racial justice movements.
Irving organized a conference call Friday involving about 80 NBA players, and he reportedly argued against resuming the season. For now, the league’s plan is to restart the season — which was suspended in March due to COVID-19 — in July at a neutral “bubble” site near Orlando.
In a long and thoughtful post on Instagram, Rivers made the case Saturday for why he’s in favor of playing. Among his comments:
Us coming back would be putting money in all our pockets. With this money, you could help out even more people and continue to give, more importantly, your time and energy towards the BLM [Black Lives Matter] movement. Which I’m 100% on board with. …
I love Kyrie’s passion towards helping this movement. I’m with it… but in the right way, and not at the cost of the whole NBA and players’ careers. We can do both. We can play, and we can help change the way black lives are lived. … Canceling or boycotting a return doesn’t do that, in my opinion. Guys want to play and provide and help change!
Austin Rivers on Kyrie Irving, restarting the season: "I love Kyrie's passion towards helping this movement…I'm with it…but in the right way & not at the cost of the whole NBA & players careers. We can do both. We can play & we can help change the way black lives are lived." pic.twitter.com/GMmyVz9nEF
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) June 13, 2020
Rivers also pointed to the financial ramifications of not resuming the season, which could lead to billions in lost revenue and player salaries, as well as needing to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with owners. Many have speculated that those negotiations could lead to a labor fight and jeopardize next season, as well.
“The ramifications ot nof playing with the TV money, CBA, etc., would really put NBA basketball behind,” Rivers wrote in his Instagram comment. “Possibly even canceling next year.”
Players have the right to do as they choose. However, the economics on not playing are devastating:
💰$1.2B in lost player salary (35% of total pay)
🏀NBA now having leverage to tear up the CBA and negotiate a new one.
💰$2B lost in revenue to the league— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 13, 2020
Rivers, who is on a minimum contract with the Rockets, further argued that many NBA players need the paychecks themselves.
“There are plenty of NBA players I know who need them paychecks… 99% of the NBA hasn’t made the money a guy like Kyrie has,” Rivers wrote.
Irving makes a maximum salary at over $30 million each year. Moreover, unlike other players who might not be paid if they choose to sit out the restart, Irving’s 2019-20 finances are secure because he’s out injured.
Fortunately for Rivers, it appears his view may represent the majority. Several high-profile players are reportedly pushing back on Irving’s movement, and The Athletic‘s Sam Amick wrote this after Friday’s call:
It’s telling that only 80-plus players logged on for the call after an invitation was sent to the entire playing body. … If we’re handicapping it at this juncture, the games will still go on, and the NBA will have a four-month chance to make even more positive off-court impact while the world is watching.
Sources: LeBron James believes he can play hoops in Orlando AND keep making an impact on the Black Lives Matter front. Intel and perspective on why he wasn’t part of Friday’s players call, at @TheAthletic https://t.co/ZXdSp5vnQ1
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 13, 2020
Russell Westbrook, who is now a teammate of Rivers with the Rockets, was reportedly among the prominent voices on Friday’s call. Considering that Westbrook is a part of the NBA and NBPA’s working group for return-to-play strategies, it would seem highly likely that Westbrook — like Rivers — is in favor of resuming the season.
Westbrook has been actively involved in protest movements after the death of George Floyd, and the stage of NBA games could potentially provide players with an even greater platform to amplify that message.
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Yahoo Sources: Several high profile players are communicating with their counterparts and educating them on potential negative financial impact not playing would have on the players, not just for this season but moving forward. (Cont’d)
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) June 12, 2020