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Anthony Davis # 3 and LeBron James # 23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stand in half court during the second half against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2020 NBA Finals on October 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images / AFP
In response to the NBA’s proposed 72-game schedule the league is considering for the 2020-21 regular season, which includes a December 22 start, NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts says players are currently in mostly against the plan.
With a Friday deadline for owners or players to choose to reject the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Roberts told The Athletic on Wednesday that the proposal is being thoroughly reviewed. She insisted that no decision would be reached from the players this week.
“We have requested and are receiving input from the parties involved and will work on a counterproposal as quickly as possible,” said Roberts. “I have absolutely no reason to believe that we will have a decision on Friday. I cannot and will not see Friday as a deadline. “
Members of the NBA’s Board of Governors are considering the feasibility of a short period of free agency after the Nov. 18 draft with training camps beginning Dec. 1.
The proposal, in part, is a response to the league’s $ 1.5 billion financial shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including lost revenue at the stadium, the costs of staging the NBA restart near Orlando and diminishing sources of additional income.
Roberts cited the personal sacrifices made by players during this pandemic-plagued campaign, which consisted of 22 teams rebooting and ending a shortened regular season before a normal postseason format, with the Los Angeles Lakers crowning champions earlier this month.
While Roberts did not present any opposition to the league’s initial proposal as a sign of a serious labor dispute, sharing that players and owners are not too far apart on issues such as the salary cap and tax concerns, he spoke firmly about the desire of the players to continue. carefully.
“Our players deserve the right to have a track so they can plan for a start so early,” said Roberts. “The overwhelming response from the players that I have received to this proposal has been negative.”
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