Members of the NBPA, led by Kyrie Irving as the union's vice-president, have voiced out reservations on returning to play and complete the suspended NBA season. The players have argued basketball is the last option amid the fears of catching the coronavirus and the social unrest gripping America. However, LeBron James is reportedly not on their side.
Irving's initiative got sizeable support from his colleagues in the NBA and the consensus during the Zoom call that he arranged is a return to play seemed out of play. The threat of COVID-19 remains even as the league will hold in Walt Disney Resort World in Orlando to minimize the risk of getting and spreading the virus.
Most importantly, James' former Cavs teammate is championing the cause of protesters seeking justice for the death of George Floyd, who was killed while being detained by police officers in Minneapolis. Irving had the sense that playing again will only distract from the cause, and many players are with him, estimated at up to 20% of the NBPA members, according to Lakers Nation.
However, while James is with his brothers on the resolve to fight for social justice and racial equality in the United States, the Lakers superstar is not inclined to support the call of walking out from the game.
His stance is not a surprise at all, the report added, citing the information shared by Sam Amick of The Athletic. That's because and the Lakers have a solid chance of advancing deep into the playoffs, reach the NBA Finals, and win the crown.
"James ... believes playing in Orlando won't deter his ability to continue inspiring change," Amick was reported as saying.
That is why the 35-year-old skipped the call arranged by Irving to underscore his position of wrapping up things in the league as normal as possible. And Amick said James has a valid point as using the NBA as a platform to advance the players' cause will be a great advantage. The reach for whatever message the NBPA is looking to push will be far wider.
It's still unclear if the differing standpoint by James and Irving will create a chasm among the NBA players but according to Patrick Beverley of the Clippers, what King James will say on the issue will have a big weight. His colleagues in the league will certainly take heed.
"If @KingJames said he hooping, we all hooping," CBS Sports reported the Clippers star in a Twitter post.
Fact is, the NBA's plan to restart the season is not compulsory as league officials have made clear that players worried about their safety or for any other reasons will not be forced to report back to work on July 30.
However, as rightly articulated by Beverley, James is batting for the business and practical reasons for playing basketball again, and the Lakers star indeed have the pull to prompt many NBA players into action. That is hard to deny.
