National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) executive director Michele Roberts has reportedly stated that NBA players support resuming the season and returning to play. ESPN‘s Ramona Shelburne reports that Roberts stated the following in regards to continuing the NBA season:
“It’s time. It’s been two and a half months of, ‘What if?’ My players need some level of certainty. I think everybody does.”
NBPA's Michele Roberts says players really want to play, need level of certainty https://t.co/yhMzBI5biJ
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 26, 2020
The NBA season has been on hiatus since mid-March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Several NBA players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, including reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert as well as former league MVP Kevin Durant.
Since then, some teams have begun the process of reopening their facilities on a limited basis as the league prepares to issue further guidelines meant to keep players and staff members safe going forward.
The league is currently exploring scenarios for reopening amid the current health crisis, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressing the state of the league recently in a conference call.
