ESPN’s Brian Windhorst talks NBA’s 25-day return to basketball proposal

NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated that the league will not consider a potential resume for the 2019-20 NBA season until May 1. Although, the question remains –  if the season can continue, how long will it take to get going?

Now, the NBA is looking at a 25-day plan to get players back to playing as safely as possible.

25-day return to basketball

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the plan would allow players to start working out individually and then transition into a team training camp before games take place.

"What they're looking at is a 25-day return to basketball window."

–@WindhorstESPN details the NBA's back-to-basketball plan pic.twitter.com/7MrQycg11C

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 12, 2020

“What I’ve been told is that it will be 11 days of individual workouts, where they’ll be social distancing for a period of time. And then hopefully if the clearance comes that they can play 5-on-5 basketball, a 14-day training camp.”

Windhorst also reports that some teams are concerned players will suffer injuries upon returning to basketball. He said many players do not have access to a court and have not been able to practice during the crisis.

“Some people I’ve seen compare this to the lockout back in 2011, but that’s just not accurate. A lot of these guys aren’t playing basketball. Yeah, if you have a great house with a beautiful indoor gym, then you are playing by yourself maybe. But in the lockout these guys were playing exhibition games. The trainers and medical personnel are really worried if there’s a restart, that there could be injuries even in the practices leading up.”

While not committing to anything this season, Windhorst said the league’s goal is to avoid next season being affected.

“Adam Silver has made it clear that they don’t want to harm next season. Maybe you can delay a mid-October start a little bit, but you would not want to harm that. In theory, if they prioritize getting the season in, they could let it go until whenever. But if there’s a backstop, it’s probably early November, and that’s a reality they’re going to have to come to.”

Windhorst says the NBA won’t make any official decisions on the league’s return until at least May 1.