Discussion around the NBA’s return has "not so subtly shifted further from player safety and closer to financial security over the past week, leading to increased optimism" about resuming the season, according to Ben Rohrbach of YAHOO SPORTS. The league "now appears to be weighing the economic impact of COVID-19 more heavily than the best practices against its spread." There is "really only one question that needs to be answered, god forbid: What if someone dies as a result of the NBA reopening too soon?" Rohrback: "We cannot let the desire to crown a champion outweigh the resulting losses" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/15).
CP3 SAYS PLAYERS WANT TO PLAY: Thunder G and NBPA President Chris Paul on Friday said the “consensus around the league” is players “want to play badly.” He said there are “a lot of hard conversations that have to be made, but with the team around us ultimately we’ll get to where we want to.” Paul said he does not “have all the answers” regarding the circumstances required for a return to play, but noted “people are working tirelessly trying to figure it out.” Paul: “What is normal now? That’s what we’re trying to figure it out, what it looks like. Until we find those answers and we can come up with an actual plan, right now it’s basically sit and wait. The virus is in control” (“The Jump,” ESPN, 5/15).
