The leadership of the National Basketball Association (NBA) has responded to calls by players not to resume the season amid protests in the United States caused by the death of George Floyd. The league recognized the problem and promised to work out a solution that would suit all parties.
“We understand the concerns of basketball players and are working with the players' union to find a compromise,” said NBA spokesman Mike Bass.
The 2019/20 season in the NBA should resume at the end of July after a long break caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 22 teams of 30 will continue to fight for the title in the city of Orlando, all the remaining matches will be held in the same arena. The playoffs will begin on August 17th and may last until October 13th. It is assumed that all this time basketball players will be prohibited from leaving the competition venue and they will have to follow strict rules against the spread of coronavirus. On August 30, their families and guests will be able to check in with the players.
This decision was agreed with the NBA players' union in early June, but recently more and more basketball players have expressed doubts about the appropriateness of playing out the remaining matches. Athletes are concerned about the ongoing protests against racial discrimination and the harsh security measures associated with the prevention of coronavirus.
The movement against the end of the season has its own leader. They became Brooklyn Nets point guard Kairi Irving, who himself will not take part in the remaining matches due to injury. On June 12, he held a video conference with about 80 players, at which he announced his position.
“I do not support a trip to Orlando. I am against systematic racism and other rubbish. Something is unclean here. Whether we want to admit it or not, we blacks are kept on the fly every single day. There are only 20 players who are really well paid, and I am one of them. Let’s not pretend that a multilevel system designed to divide us all does not exist, ”various sources cite Irving.
In addition to the 2016 NBA champion, such stars as Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid and many others took part in the conference. More than half of the allotted time was spent discussing the problems of racism and social injustice, while security issues faded into the background.
NBA management has already made a statement that players will not be forced to participate in the remaining matches. They will not be punished for refusing, but they will lose part of the salary that they would receive for accessing the site. However, the association may be a big problem the lack of a number of stars.
Two days later, Irving was supported by Dwight Howard, whose Los Angeles Lakers team is the leader of the Western Conference and has a good chance of winning the championship. He is confident that the resumption of the season will prevent the protesters from achieving their goals.
“I agree with Kairi. Basketball, like other spectacular events, is now not needed. He will only distract. Of course, this may not concern us, the players, but we have resources that the majority in our community do not have. The slightest distraction can lead to the fact that they will begin to forget about their problems, and this process will no longer be stopped, especially in the current atmosphere. I would like to win my first NBA title more than anything. But the unity of my people would be an even greater victory. It's too good to refuse, ”Howard told CNN.
At the same time, his teammate LeBron James, also known for his support of the black population, does not intend to give up the opportunity to finish the season. NBC sources close to his surroundings claim that the basketball player believes in the ability to play sports while continuing to participate in the Black Lives Matter movement.
In addition to those basketball players who openly oppose the championship because of protests, there are several more players for whom the coronavirus pandemic is the main reason for refusing matches. According to the center Boston Celtics, Enes Carter, some of the big NBA stars are afraid of getting infected.
“I have many friends in different teams. I talked with one of them (I will not give his name and club), and he said: "There are a lot of guys in my team who will not play." They are from the Eastern Conference and go to the playoffs. They are superstars. If I tell you who it is, you will lose your mind. But I can not. And, according to him, they will not play. They said that until they find a vaccine, until they find a cure, they are not going to play, ”Carter said.
According to ESPN, in the event of a breakdown in the current season, the NBA may terminate the collective agreement with the players. In a pandemic, a new contract may be less beneficial for players.