NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told players on a call Friday that a decision on the resumption of the 2019-20 season can extend into June and that if the league does return to play it is not expected that fans will be able to attend games, according to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.
Charania also reported that Silver said it is safer to hold games in a few locations — such as Disney World Orlando and Las Vegas — rather than flying from city to city if the NBA comes back from its hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski is also reporting that Silver said on the call that he hoped potential playoffs would include a seven-game series in every round.
Silver said ticket sales to games make up 40 per cent of league revenue, so the NBA is working on creative solutions to deliver them on TV.
The commissioner is also reportedly starting to prepare players for the possibility of no fans next year if a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is not developed.
The NBA took some steps toward normalcy Friday, as a small number of practice facilities reopened for workouts.
The league suspended its season on March 11 after Utah Jazz all-star centre Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. It ordered teams to close their facilities eight days later
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
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