League, union pushing back on reports of pessimism around NBA return

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed pessimism about the NBA’s return, but he says he was scolded by two sides of the league’s power structure.

Over the weekend there was some considerable pessimism around the NBA about the possibility of salvaging the season and crowning a 2020 Champion, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. But as the week has progressed, Windhorst himself said on the Hoop Collective Podcast that he has been “scolded,” by both the league itself and the player’s union.

Here’s how Windhorst described those conversations, as transcribed by RealGM.

“I’ve spent every day for the last 10 or 15 days talking to people in the league about what it will take to get to return to play,” said Windhorst. “I have heard so many different opinions for so many different things. I don’t know if it makes someone who is aware or my mind is too cluttered. I’ve swung from optimism to pessimism and I’ve been scolded by both the league office and the union for being pessimistic. Scolded!”

Taken with the news out of China last week that they were once again pushing back the start of the return to basketball or professional sports, Windhorst’s reporting did not seem out of the question of irrational. With billions of dollars at stake for both the league and players, as well as the competitiveness many have to finish a season they started, you can understand why they would be upset. However, the public health crisis has to subside in some way for anything to return, even if it’s a made for TV event with no fans.

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