5:20 PM ET
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic set to be part of American life indefinitely, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the leagues strategy to return to play next month in a closed campus environment in Florida was the very best alternative available to the league.
” We understand that COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future,” Silver stated on a teleconference Friday afternoon with a number of league authorities. “And we are left with no choice but to discover to deal with this virus.
” No options are risk-free today.”
National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts, NBPA president Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala also were on the teleconference.
2 RelatedSilver was asked about two significant challenges that the league need to get rid of– the rapid increase of coronavirus cases in Florida and the possibility of an infection entering the bubble environment itself– in its effort to pull off its 22-team reboot at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
” My supreme conclusion is that we cant outrun the infection, which this is what were gon na be coping with for the foreseeable future– which is why we designed the campus the method we did,” Silver said. “And so its a closed network; and while its not impermeable, we are in essence protected from cases around us. At least, thats the model.
” So for those factors, were still extremely comfy being in Orlando.”
The league and the union formally agreed to proceed with the restart strategy earlier Friday.
Silver confessed the day-to-day case count in Florida– which neared 9,000 in the totals revealed Friday– was something he is stressed over. He added, the safety measures the league is putting into location are meant to prevent that from impacting what the league is attempting to do.
” The answer is yes, the level of concern has increased– not even if of the increased levels in Florida, however throughout the nation,” Silver stated. “At least today, I think, 29 of the 50 states have actually an increased number of cases. Naturally, we developed our school, in essence, to isolate ourselves from whatever the level of cases was in the surrounding neighborhood.
” But given that we developed our initial protocol, we are continuing to deal with Disney on the testing of a minimum of a subset of their workers that could potentially be in the exact same space as our gamers, and anyone else whos checked daily on our campus. So we are pleased that, once we resolve those additional measures with Disney, we will continue to have a safe setting for us to resume our season.”
As for what takes place when a gamer tests positive for the virus, Silver was asked particularly what the NBA would do in a situation in which a super star gamer tests positive– which would, at a minimum, require them to refrain from working out from 2 weeks, automatically ruling them out for a minimum of an entire round of the playoffs.
” We have not overcome every circumstance,” Silver said. “But the idea would be that if we had a single player test positive, frankly, whether that gamer was an All-Star or a journeyman, that player would then go into quarantine. We would then be tracking any gamers or other personnel that gamer had actually touched with, and even potentially supplement the daily screening simply to ensure that others have not been infected.
” But then we would continue. That team would be down a man, and we would deal with that positive test as we would an injury throughout the season. Therefore we would not postpone the continuation of the playoffs.”
Silver went on to state, however, that the larger question left unasked– what will the league do if there is a larger spread of the virus within the campus beyond a single player, or perhaps a number of them– is one he still does not have a firm answer to.
” My ultimate conclusion is that we cant outrun the virus, and that this is what were gon na be living with for the foreseeable future– which is why we developed the school the way we did,” Silver said.” The response is yes, the level of concern has increased– not just due to the fact that of the increased levels in Florida, however throughout the nation,” Silver stated. “But the notion would be that if we had a single player test favorable, frankly, whether that player was an All-Star or a journeyman, that gamer would then go into quarantine. We would then be tracking any gamers or other workers that player had been in contact with, and even potentially supplement the day-to-day screening just to make sure that others have not been polluted.
“But were working carefully with the gamers association, with Disney, and with public health officials in Florida as to what that line must be.
” If we were to have significant spread of coronavirus through our neighborhood, that ultimately may lead us to stopping,” Silver stated. “But were working carefully with the gamers association, with Disney, and with public health officials in Florida regarding what that line should be. And it hasnt been exactly developed. I believe we wish to come down on the ground and begin to see how our testings working and how the procedures are working and then well make choices as we go.”
There were likewise a number of questions inquired about the continuous protests over social justice and racial inequality in the country– protests that have actually been participated in by many NBA gamers. Paul made it clear it will stay a front-and-center subject of discussion in Orlando.
” Youre going to continue to hear us,” Paul stated. “This isnt a stopped talking and dribble scenario.”
Tim BontempsESPN
