NBA: Is the league’s plan to return beginning to fall apart?

Is the NBA’s plan to return set up to fall apart?

The NBA has a plan in place that will allow for play to continue on July 30. It will consist of eight seeding games, a potential play-in playoffs tournament, and then traditional seven-game playoffs series. However, there’s growing concern that the plan could be jeopardy.

Kyrie Irving, vice president of the NBA’s Players Organization, reportedly played a key role in a call with more than 100 players discussing whether or not returning to action in an Orlando bubble would prove to be a good decision or not.

Here’s what transpired according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:

"On a call that included nearly 100 players and several stars on Friday night, Irving made an impassioned plea for players to make a stand and sit out the season’s resumption in Orlando, sources said. Around 90 minutes in length, the call included several players suggesting they’d be willing to sit out the season — and numerous more discussing social issues, league economics and, ultimately, a sense that they needed to be united in a decision."

In short, there are some concerns. Clearly. Between the social injustice and protesting taking place around the country and the continuing concerns surrounding COVID-19, there are some real questions about whether it is the best idea to return to action.

Especially in a bubble that is not really a bubble.

The NBA has some real questions to answer

There’s also the question about the optics of the situation. Would the NBA returning to action take away from the social justice movement taking place in America right now? Would the NBA returning tamper down the movement and take attention away from the protests that are taking place every day? Or would if actually give players a bigger platform?

It’s a question that isn’t easy to answer, and I’m not sure there’s a “right” answer. I’m also sure there are players on both sides of the spectrum.

Discussion is expected to continue in the next few days and there will eventually be a vote amongst players. Amid the concerns, there needs to be at least some sort of unity. If players aren’t comfortable with returning even if they vote on resuming the season, that’s perfectly fine. And OK.  But there are still plenty of talks, meetings, conference calls, and discussions that will need to take place.

There are clearly some real obstacles to clear before July 30. There’s still time to figure it all out, but the optimism around the return to play certainly isn’t at the same level as it was just a week ago.