As rumors circulate that the NBA is "angling" toward shutting the 2019-20 season, commissioner Adam Silver isn't ready to make any final decisions until May 1 at the earliest.
In an interview with Ernie Johnson for the Twitter show #NBATogether, Silver explained that the uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness in the country's response to combating the coronavirus pandemic has left him incapable of reaching a decision anytime soon. "Essentially, what I've told my folks over the last week is that we just should just accept that, at least for the month of April, we won't be in a position to make any decisions," he said. "And I don’t think that necessarily means on May 1 we will be."
Following a call with Donald Trump and all major league sports commissioners this past weekend, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Silver was willing to resume the season, but only after public health officials gave him an "all clear." Silver reiterated how much he's prioritizing everyone's safety when determining how the league will progress, which ultimately depends on when that day comes when they're given the OK to move forward.
The league has floated a number of ideas, which include playing games with no one in the crowd to fast-tracking the season to the playoffs that will be held entirely at a neutral site, like Las Vegas. The NBA hasn't made much progress on figuring out the direction of the 2019-20 campaign, but they are reportedly working with the Players Association on assessing a "diabetes-like" blood testing device that will provide accurate coronavirus results within 15 minutes.
"Rapid-testing results are key to return to work, return to sports, everything," an anonymous NBA general manager told ESPN. "Whatever job you have and environment you work in, if you're interacting with people, we're all going to have to feel safe doing that. Sports isn't any different."
