NBA players discuss adding insurance policies prior to season restart

Five players of the 2017 NBA Draft Class discussed the possibility of insurance policies to protect against career-threatening injuries.

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Five players of the 2017 NBA Draft Class reportedly discussed on Friday with the National Basketball Players Association the possibility of insurance policies to protect against career-threatening injuries sustained in the season restart, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The players — which included Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Kuzma — encouraged the NBPA to heighten conversations with the NBA on financing possible insurance policies. Given the risks involved with returning to play, players are concerned with the potential of suffering injury or sickness.

The NBA and NBPA, according to the report, have been in discussions regarding protections against contracting the coronavirus or serious injury with the league set to restart at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The two sides are negotiating the details to revise the protections already offered in the collective bargaining agreement.

The group of players that attended the call with the NBPA is among the top up-and-coming players in the NBA and represent significant earning potential. They are each eligible for rookie contract extensions during the offseason, which will begin in October, and can potentially earn in excess of $100 million.

The insurance policy could cost around $500,000 to protect against a possible career-ending injury.

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