Photo Credit: The National Basketball Association NEWS The NBA is Back by Andre Oge June 4, 2020 With the pandemic and protests breaking out around the country, these have certainly been turbulent times. Many sports organizations, including the NBA have been put on pause in the name of safety. Civic unrest and uncertainty are running rampant for good reason. In spite of all this, the world we know is trying to formulate a new normal. To that end, Adam Silver and the NBA have been working hard to bring the season back in a safe way. As of Thursday, the League’s board of governors approved a sustainable plan to do so. Here’s the News ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that the NBA was back. League officials met to target a July 31 return date. The format would be to invite 22 teams to Orlando, where the remainder of the season will play out. The 22 teams will be comprised of the top 13 teams from the Western Conference and the top nine from the East. Each team will have eight regular season games to solidify an spot in the top seeds. From there, there will likely be a sort of playoffs, however the exact details of the post season haven’t been released yet. In all likelihood, it will follow the same format as the remainder of the season and allow for playoff teams to safely compete in Orlando. The COVID Context Obviously, safety concerns have not been erased. COVID-19 still exists, and there is still no vaccine. Moreover, the country is still in a state of outrage regarding the murder of George Floyd, further exasperating a fear of an increased spread due to an uptake in protests. With that being said, it’ll be unlikely that fans will be able to be physically present at the arena. Of course, that won’t stop the remaining games from being televised, allowing fans to still support their favorite teams. A similar strategy may be applied to media, aside from essential personnel and coaching staff. The exact guidelines for player interactions have yet to be outlined as well. In all likelihood, players won’t be required to wear a mask. Thus, it stands to ask what safety precautions will there be for players? Additionally, in the event of a second wave, will the NBA still continue their plans? A New Normal It’s hard to determine what our brave new world will look like post-pandemic. Yet, that hasn’t stopped the NBA for taking steps towards the future. According to Woj, the NBA is also pushing forward with the draft, with the lottery to take place on August 25 and the draft to take place on October 15. If all goes well, this will be a successful trial run on how the NBA will continue. The hope is that one day soon, fans will be reintegrated into their teams’ respective arenas. However, with the varying state responses to the pandemic, it will be difficult to set a singular guideline for how to host visiting teams. Thus, even with Commissioner Silver making moves, there is still a lot left unclear. Regardless, this seems to be a workable plan in the right direction that fans can get excited about. In Conclusion In the vortex of negativity, there is a slight bit of good news on the horizon. By all accounts, the NBA is resuming the season. Unless the threat of a second wave of the virus solidifies, it seems that the League is moving full steam ahead with a future season as well. Of course, this is all subject to change given the emphasis on public health and safety. However, until such threats become concrete, it seems fair to say that the NBA is definitely back. Post Views: 1,467 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Andre Oge Andre is the New York Knicks Lead Writer for DoubleGSports.com Latest posts by Andre Oge (see all) Kyrie Irving Rallies Players to Continue Fight Against Racism - June 14, 2020 The NBA is Back - June 4, 2020 Stephen Jackson, the NBA Community, Demand Justice for the Murder of George Floyd - May 29, 2020 NBA Opening Practice Facilities in Certain States - April 26, 2020 Related TopicsAdam SilverAdrian WojnarowskiBasketballGiannis AntetokounmpoJoel EmbiidKawhi LeonardKevin DurantLeBron JamesNBAOrlando Click to comment You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 Women in Sports: Ariel Epstein, On-Air Host at SportsGrid (VIDEO) by Anthony Paradiso | posted on March 12, 2021 A Conversation with Nancy Newman: “We Are All a Yankee Family” by Elizabeth DiPietro | posted on July 27, 2020 Women in Sports: Podcast Host, New York Riptide Sideline Reporter, Dani Wexelman by Luke Porco | posted on March 3, 2020 Fighting Words: Bellator is Giving Hardy the Credit She Deserves by Kristine Haugsjaa | posted on October 20, 2017 More in NEWS French Officials Identify Over 400 Sports Figures Suspected of Sexual Violence Sixty people have faced criminal proceedings, and over 100 have been remove from their... Tim Peel is Discharged After Caught on Hot Mic Tim Peel was Discharged from the NHL After He was Caught on the Hot... Lebron James Leaves Coca-Cola To Sign With Pepsi Lebron James Leaves Coca-Cola To Sign With Pepsi To Be The Face Of Mountain... WNBA Rolling Out Red Carpet For Upcoming 25th Anniversary Season The WNBA’s 25th season also marks the debut of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Stephen Jackson, the NBA Community, Demand Justice for the Murder of George Floyd Baseline Jumper, Episode 125: The Return of the NBA (Audio)