The NBA and NBPA approved a plan to restart the NBA season in late July with 22 of the league’s 30 teams congregating at Disney World in Orlando, but a large contingent of NBA players have issues with the proposal.
On Friday evening, a large group of players – including many superstars – participated in a conference call to discuss a potential return to play, and Nets guard Kyrie Irving reportedly said that he is opposed to going to Orlando. Irving, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, would not be in action for the rest of the season, but he made it clear that his focus is on social reform in the wake of worldwide protests against racial injustice and systemic racism.
Sources tell me majority of the NBA call was on social justice reform. It lasted for about 2 hours, but over an hour was dedicated to that.
While they are absolutely all concerned about COVID and that was a vital part of conversation. Racial injustice is the #1 talking point.— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) June 13, 2020
Kyrie Irving on players call Friday, per sources: “I’m willing to give up everything I have (for social reform)."
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 13, 2020
Kyrie Irving told NBA players on call Friday, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium: "I don’t support going into Orlando. I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. Something smells a little fishy."
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 13, 2020
Other players reportedly voiced concerns about health issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
Donovan Mitchell, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard among others spoke out about possibly sitting out due to social/COVID-19 issues, per sources. NBPA leadership, Paul/Garrett Temple, provided insight too. Every player had a voice — wants to find purpose, whether they play or not.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 13, 2020
There's no singular conversation driving discussion among players now: It isn't just the Black Lives Matter movement, or the coronavirus, or bubble limitations, or family concerns, or risk of injury, or money. Many players are discussing and weighing it all. https://t.co/2fqmUfgbNx
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2020
The situation, of course, is extremely complicated, and it remains to be seen how much support other players will have for Irving’s stance that the season should not resume. Irving’s Nets teammate Garrett Temple, an NBPA exec, told ESPN that he believes Black athletes in the NBA should try to earn as much as they can and close the economic gap.
Via ESPN:
“The difference in the economic gap between white America and black America is astronomical. I can’t in good conscience tell my brethren to throw away millions of dollars in order to create change that I don’t see the direct impact of — if there was a direct impact of laws changing, that would be a different story.”
A refusal to play would also have drastic economic impacts on the league and its players, not just in this season but in the years to come, which could likely lead to reduced salaries for players.
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
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