By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
NBA is examining plans on whether, when and how the 2019-20 season can or cannot be concluded, though at the same time team executives and agents now call for an ultimate season cancellation, according to reports by cnbc.com.
Team executives and players’ agents spoke with CNBC in the recent weeks about the risks of concluding the season and said team owners are concerned with liability issues and are conflicted about whether or not to cancel the current season.
“What [owners] are saying is, ’If we return, where is the revenue that is going to justify the additional cost of returning?” one team executive told CNBA. “They are looking at the cost side versus the revenue side. What revenue comes in now?”
“These owners aren’t just sitting there with an ATM that’s printing more than ever before,” said Andy Dolich, Memphis Grizzlies‘ former president of business operations. “Some of them are looking at vast losses outside of just their basketball team.”
A roughly $2 billion revenue is currently at stake, deriving mostly from teams’ TV rights, while the NBA has been considering also on drastic changes in the calendar to avoid such a significant financial loss. At the same time, a few days prior, a statement was released by the league, mentioning that sports facilities can open no earlier than May 8.
“It is the responsibility of the league office to explore all options for a return to play this season,” a spokesperson mentioned to CNBC. “We owe that to our fans, teams, players, partners and all who love the game. While our top priority remains everyone’s health and well-being, we continue to evaluate all options to finish this season. At the same time, we are intensely focused on addressing the potential impact of Covid-19 on the 2020-21 season.”
From the players’ standpoint, LeBron James later commented that the league “shouldn’t be canceling anything”.
“Saw some reports about execs and agents wanting to cancel season? That’s absolutely not true. Nobody I know saying anything like that. As soon as it’s safe we would like to finish our season. I’m ready and our team is ready. Nobody should be canceling anything”, he wrote on his twitter account.