By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA has successfully gone through the bubble and reached the Finals. Commissioner Adam Silver talked about the whole process but also shared views about the upcoming 2020-21 season.
Primarily, the starting date will most likely be in early 2021: “I don’t know the answer to most of your questions. I’ve said previously that the earliest we would start at this point is Christmas. That’s been a traditional tentpole date for the league, but it may come and go. I’ve also said probably the greater likelihood is we’ll start in January.”
Part of the reason for delaying the start is to give players sufficient rest after a very long season: “But remember, if we start in January, it means training camps have begun roughly three weeks earlier, and part of the consideration is that for these players, as I said at the open, in the longest season in the history of the NBA, many of them have continued training throughout the break, Finals will end in roughly mid-October, and they need a break physically and mentally. There’s no question about that.”
Aside from the schedule, a very important factor has been if the fans will be able to attend and how to provide a safe way to do so.
“As for fans in seats, it’s certainly our goal, but it’s dependent on some additional advancements. Rapid testing may be the key here. Think of where we started. Remember when we were first coming in Orlando, one of the biggest considerations, and we talked openly about this, was will there be sufficient testing. We’re now at the point just in Florida where roughly a quarter of the population of the state has now been tested. Over 5 million people in the state have been tested. There appears to be ample testing. But in terms of the traditional PCR test, the test that many of you are doing that you take and come back the next day, the question is will there be truly rapid testing, point of care testing, don’t get sent to a lab, instant results,” Silver said and added.
“There are a lot of pharmaceutical companies focused on that. There’s a huge marketplace for that. So we’re somewhat dependent. David Weiss, who I mentioned earlier, along with Dr. David Ho, are leading our own research efforts. We’ve been part of an initiative called Saliva Direct, working with Yale University. So we’ve been active in that area, as well. I think we’ll see, and I think it’s why I mentioned also earlier look what happened between our decision to come here in May and then July. I think a lot could change between now and then. I think as I said, we’ll learn from the other leagues, as well.”