If the league finishes its season, things are going to feel different at games.
If the NBA regular season resumes, it is almost “100 percent” the games will be played without fans present, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Friday.
Windhorst said on air the NBA will very likely mimic the plan being used in China for a potential end to the current hiatus, which began March 12. In China, ground zero for the coronavirus in recent weeks, the plan for professional basketball to resume includes keeping players in a centralized, isolated location or shared hotel to limit the chance they come in contact with any infected person.
On Thursday’s episode of the “Road Trippin'” podcast with former Cavs teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, LeBron James again spoke out against the idea that NBA games would be played in empty arenas or without fans.
“I’m not going for that,” James said.
Given that James is now 35 years old, this may be one of his last best shots at winning a title. Windhorst says James will have to change his stance if he wants that chance.
“If LeBron James wants to play for a championship this year he is going to have to reset his expectations,” Windhorst said. “That’s what China is looking at — clustering teams in a bubble where they can be protected. LeBron is the voice of the rest of the league. He’s speaking with emotion the way he sees it.
“The reality is, if the NBA comes back, at least in the short term, it’s going to be in empty arenas or empty aircraft hangars where they just put down a court. … That’s something players are going to have to start getting their minds around.”
Some reports have indicated the league could lose out on up to $1 billion in revenue if the season does not resume. Even accounting for lost ticket and concession sales, the ability to put games on television would recoup a sizable portion of those losses and service fans who want to see a championship.
