Fansided

NBA season uncertain with players reportedly not unified on Orlando plan

By Matt Verderame

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 1, 2020 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 1, 2020 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA season was supposed to resume on July 30 in Orlando with 22 teams. Now, it’s an uncertainty once more.

Will we have a conclusion to the 2019-20 NBA season? All questions are fair in the moment.

On Friday night, a bevy of reports surfaced all essentially saying the same thing. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has an internal conflict about whether the play within the bubble in Orlando at Walt Disney World and restart the season after the COVID-19 interruption.

Will the NBA finish its season at Walt Disney World this summer?

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo, the players are concerned about not having each individual vote on the restart, considering the potential risk being taken. Additionally, there has been an issue of how the NBA returning in such a fashion looks nationally while the country is in the midst of mass social reform protests following the death of George Floyd.

In multiple reports, a legion of stars are among those unsure about playing under the current agreement including Portland Trailblazers forward Carmelo Anthony, Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving and Utah Jazz forward Donovan Mitchell.

If name players begin to declare they are out, it would be tough for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to go forward with the plan. For starters, the season would become a sham as playoff-bound teams are without their best players due to concerns over safety.

Also, while the NBA has floated the idea of replacement players should a player contract the coronavirus, at what point do the optics become negative? If enough players don’t want to be involved, the NBA may appear pushy at a time when health and common sense should rule the day.

It’s an unprecedented, tough spot for Silver. He’ll need to work closely with the NBPA to find a solution, if there is one.

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