As it looks ever more unlikely that basketball can resume in any group setting for a considerable amount of time, the NBA and its television partners have found some kind of solution for the meantime where they can still televise NBA players doing what they do best, but doing so in a way that respects social distancing and would not require a mass quarantining or constant testing of the participants.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday afternoon that his employer and the NBA are working on a televised H-O-R-S-E competition featuring NBA players, most likely players who already have their own home gyms with basketball hoops since most public basketball courts are closed, as well as team practice facility courts.
The NBA and ESPN are working on televising a H-O-R-S-E competition involving several high-profile players, sources say. Players would shoot in isolation – presumably in home gyms – and match shots against competitors. Details are still being finalized.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 4, 2020
The only thing each participant would need is a camera and they’d be able to stream from their home gyms. LeBron James is one of the few players that has one, as does his Lakers teammate Anthony Davis. There’s no word yet on whether LeBron and Dwight Howard will remake their McDonald’s commercial competition. Meanwhile, defending league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t been playing basketball or shooting at all.
The NBA and ESPN are working on a H-O-R-S-E competition, according to @wojespn.
Anyone remember this game of H-O-R-S-E between @KingJames and @DwightHoward? https://t.co/ezS0ltKECs
— LeBron Wire (@LeBron_Wire) April 4, 2020
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