Commissioner Adam Silver Says New Wave of COVID-19 Could Kill NBA Reboot

The NBA Commissioner’s plan to resume the season in Orlando may be postponed due to the coronavirus’s recent spike among NBA staff and players.

“Certainly if we had a lot of cases, we are going to stop. You cannot run from this virus,” Silver said.

According to TMZ, DeAndre Jordan and Jabari Parker of the New Orleans Pelicans have recently tested positive, among several members of the Denver Nuggets and others. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Despite the growing number of cases, Silver told” Time 100 Talks,” he is “pretty confident” the season will move forward.

“We and our players, together with their union, look at the data on a daily basis. If there were something to change that was outside of the scope of what we are playing for, certainly, we would revisit our plans.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Silver assures the league is testing daily but hasn’t considered a number that will halt plans to resume. “If we were to see a large number of cases and see spread in our community, that would, of course, be a cause to stop as well.”

Medical and science experts have been brought in to help issue guidance through the pandemic plans to resume in the bubble environment at Walt Disney in Florida, that Silver believes is safe. Some teams are expected to start arriving in Orlando on July 7.

“I am absolutely convinced that it will be safer on this campus than off this campus because there aren’t many situations that I am aware of where there is mass testing of asymptomatic employees,” Silver said.

“In some ways, this is maybe a model for how other industries can ultimately open. But, I am only going to say we will be responsible and watch what is happening, but the biggest indicator will be if we begin to see a spread in our community.”

As for now, tip-off is set for July 31. Will you be watching?