Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |

A handful of players involved in Friday's call over concerns about plans to restart the 2019-20 season expressed strongly that they would consider not playing, according to a source familiar with the call. But several people in touch with players in the aftermath of the call believe that the 2019-20 season will ultimately be restarted in Orlando as planned.

"Some guys may sit out, but I'd be stunned if there weren't games in Orlando this summer," a source familiar with Friday's call said.

NBPA executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN that players spent the weekend discussing how to enhance the current social movement against racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd.

Players have expressed concern in recent days about the plan to restart the season, which would include the Brooklyn Nets. The concern doesn't stem from just one issue, but includes worries over health and safety in the "bubble" where games would take place, and that participating in games would negatively impact the movement to bring about real change to systemic inequality.

Malcolm Brogdon, a member of the NBPA executive committee, explained on JJ Redick's podcast last week that several players are undecided on returning to the court.

"With sort of what's going on in the background between COVID, the health issues and the civil unrest, in the Black Community but also just the country as a whole, I think we're going to have a lot of guys that will have mixed opinions, mixed views on whether they'll come back," Brogdon said on the podcast, which was released prior to Friday's call among players. "Whether they come back and sit out, whether they'll come back and demonstrate. It's definitely going to be interesting."

In the days leading up to Friday's call among dozens of NBA players to discuss the plan for the restart, a significant number of players on an Eastern Conference playoff team expressed strong concern about playing in Orlando, sources told SNY.

Union exec and Nets star Kyrie Irving was among the driving forces behind the call between dozens of players on Friday night, SNY sources confirm. There was no clear consensus on the call.

According to The Athletic, Irving told players on the call, "I don't support going into Orlando. I'm not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. Something smells a little fishy."

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The NBPA team reps voted to confirm the NBA Board of Governor's plan to resume the season earlier this month. Per Yahoo! Sports and Bleacher Report, a significant number of players were upset that they didn't have a voice in the process.

"I don't think they end up agreeing not to play, but a lot of guys are upset," one source in touch with several players prior to Friday night's call told SNY.

Several players discussed the issue publicly over the weekend on social media posts (Austin Rivers and Lou Williams among them) illustrating the varied opinions among players.

Irving was among those involved in the NBPA's vote to approve the plan earlier this month. The plan calls for 22 teams to participate in a 'bubble' environment in Orlando. (The Knicks are not among the group of teams planning to play). Both the league and players union have said they need to work out a significant amount of details before a full plan is finalized.

If the players elected not to participate in the season restart, they would be forgoing salary and the league would likely lose a significant amount of money in revenue -- even more than is projected due to the coronavirus crisis and the imbroglio with China over Daryl Morey's tweet in the beginning of the season.

The current collective bargaining agreement could be aborted, so a decision against playing comes with significant financial ramifications.

However, one NBA agent over the weekend said, surprisingly, that the players should take advantage of their opportunity to be a force for change.

"This is their time to really take a stand and make a difference," the agent said. "This is a great opportunity. Will it hurt financially? Of course. But there's great leadership in Adam Silver and Michele Roberts. They will piece it together in a way that benefits both groups. I think they should take a stand and not play."

According to ESPN, teams will be able to bring in substitute players in place of those who decide not to play the rest of the season. The NBA is also planning on allowing replacements for players who test positive for coronavirus, or sustain injury.

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