The NBA has suspended the ongoing season due to the coronavirus outbreak, but there were expectations the games would resume after 30 days. That unlikely will be the case now as the latest moves coming from league officials and health authorities pointed to a shutdown that could last indefinitely.
The league started the week with three players confirmed positive for COVID-19. The first batch of detection was composed of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz. Soon after, they were joined by Detroit Pistons' Christian Wood.
Almost immediately, NBA officials ordered a league-wide quarantine, testing, and tracing. All activities that will gather people in a place have been prohibited. A total work stoppage is effectively in full effect.
And the hope that the league will resume operations was dashed with the latest directive issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all events with 50 people or more be canceled. The advisory from CDC was a recommendation but The Los Angeles Times said the note could easily mean that the NBA will not allow games to play as early as May or June.
The reasonable expectation is it would be a long wait as the next step made by the league was to allow players to head home. That was the signal that they have been allowed to go on a vacation as essentially, the NBA is now on hiatus. When they are called back to action, nobody knows.
It remains unclear if the season can still be salvaged, but per the same report, there will be big changes if indeed the games for the current will still be played.
One is the application of the original plan even before NBA players have been infected. Games will be played behind closed doors, and the league can order that matches are held in practice facilities, which is for practicality's sake.
It's possible too that the games will not resume until summer and that would mean pushing back or canceling of other activities. This early, league officials are preparing to cancel the training camp, the draft, and the free agency. In short, the NBA is bracing for a huge disruption.
To be sure, there will be losses to the league and to club owners. ESPN said the halted NBA games will most certainly lead to problems in future sponsorships and ticket renewals.
"Many owners are feeling the sting of not only the loss of NBA games but the loss of concert dates and other events in darkened arenas," the report said.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has sent out the word that the league will need to devise ways on how to cope with the "unprecedented crisis" in order to cushion the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
