NBA discussing 'campus environment' with optimism building for resuming play: report

Adam Silver also reportedly gave two-to-four week timetable for making a decision on the season

5/13/2020, 3:17 AM
Oct 23, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the press during the 2023 NB All-Star announcement at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports / Chris Nicoll
Oct 23, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the press during the 2023 NB All-Star announcement at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports / Chris Nicoll

NBA commissioner Adam Silver held a call with the Board of Governors on Tuesday, and it sounds like momentum is continuing to build toward the NBA season resuming play.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, members left the call "feeling positive" about the NBA starting games again.

One of the big takeaways from the call, per ESPN, is the league and players needing to be "comfortable" with some potential future positive coronavirus tests, not needing to shut down again once play does resume.

Of course, the entire league was shut down in mid-March following Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gobert (and later guard Donovan Mitchell) testing positive for the virus. 

 

ESPN also reported that Silver used the term "campus environment" when speaking about what's being called hub or bubble plans for the season. Both Disney World in Orlando and Las Vegas have previously been reported as two potential hubs for the season to resume.

Meanwhile, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Silver gave the Board of Governors a two-to-four week timetable for reaching a decision on the season. It had been previously reported that a decision on resuming play could go later into June, but now a narrower timetable has been established.

This call between SIlver and Board of Governors comes after The Athletic reported earlier on Tuesday that the NBA and NBPA were creating a group to discuss "return-to-play" strategies. The group reportedly features NBPA president Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Jayson Tatum, among others.

If/when the NBA does indeed return, the playoffs will all but certainly have a different look. Not only could they all be played at one of these campus environments, but the possible expanded nature of the playoffs could even include the Knicks, who sit at 21-45, in a play-in round. 

The NBA certainly has some important decisions to make in the coming days and weeks, but momentum seems to be building toward completing the season after all. 

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