Getty Image
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on Wednesday evening that the league is considering some sort of charity game involving “medically cleared” players and personnel in an effort to both entertain sports fans and raise money during the league’s current coronavirus-induced hiatus.
“Just because people are stuck at home and they need a diversion and they need to be entertained,” Silver said. “…To the extent we were the first to shut our league down. To what extent can we be a first mover to restart our economy.” [via Sports Illustrated]
In addition to the charity game, Silver also provided further information about the current season, saying that while he’s optimistic the season can eventually be saved, he has no idea what the timeline is. Silver reiterated that the season would not be resumed until “public health officials give us the okay.”
Adam Silver says the NBA could potentially host an exhibition game with a small group of players in a controlled and safe environment
(🎥 @TheBallRealm )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 18, 2020
At the time of this writing on Wednesday night, eight of the 30 teams in the NBA have been tested for the coronavirus. Thus far, seven NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19, with four of them being publicly identified: Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood, and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant.
Additionally, LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates are currently undergoing 14-day self-quarantine periods, as they were also exposed to the virus when they played the Brooklyn Nets at the Staples Center on Tuesday, March 10. At this time, the results of the Lakers COVID-19 tests have yet to be announced.
***
Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com