The LA Clippers and NBA might have issues returning as players have voiced concern.
While the NBA has officially said they will resume play on July 30, there is now growing concern among a large number of players. The LA Clippers and the rest of the league might have to adjust their plans after 150 players join a Zoom call tonight to address the issues.
What are those issues? There are a few.
Some players are concerned about having to stay quarantined in Orlando and the actual protection they and their family will have from the coronavirus.
Others, feel the whole field of players was not heard as the vote by the Players’ Association board did not feature votes from all 400+ players.
The final concern is the optics of returning after the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed. Several players have been out protesting against the racial injustice and feel getting “sequestered in one location for up to three months merely to entertain the masses and ease the league’s economic burden” is not the best look.
The call on Zoom will hopefully address those concerns. We don’t yet know the majority of players who are hesitant to return, but as noted in Chris Hayne’s article, Carmelo Anthony, Jerami Grant, and Kyrie Irving (who is leading the call) are a few of the names.
Patrick Beverley of the LA Clippers has voiced his concern about returning several times, citing both the pandemic and the protests as reasons he feels now is not the right time to be worried about something as trivial as basketball.
Everything going on right NOW........🏀🏀🏀is NOT IMPORTANT✊🏿✊🏿 https://t.co/o2KxObIwyv
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) June 3, 2020
Given that both reasons are legitimate concerns to return, we have to figure that Beverley will be part of the call that takes place tonight.
While the prospect of the league returning and the LA Clippers potentially winning a championship is exciting, players have a right to be concerned. If they voice their opinion tonight that they don’t feel comfortable playing, the league will have to heavily consider canceling the season or heavily updating their plan before teams have to report to Orlando in mid-July.