My Monthly Sports Minute: How to Reopen the NBA and Respond to COVID?

I was so excited for March Madness and the NBA playoffs this year, and then BOOM! The world shut down — due to a surge in the COVID-19 virus.

Until death tolls rapidly started rising, many of us questioned the seriousness of the virus. With all that has been happening with COVID — including many unanswered questions and the uncertainty of whether or not we will ever go back to “normal” — it does not seem like the greatest time to reopen the NBA. More people around the country are contracting COVID, experiencing horrible symptoms, and dying from the virus. Even so, the league is still planning on reopening the NBA season via “The Bubble” in Orlando, Florida — a known COVID hotspot. Does that seem like the best idea in this climate?

We all miss seeing our favorite teams play. We may miss going out to bars with friends to watch the playoffs. We missed out on creating brackets for March Madness. But, we have to remember, professional athletes are human beings.

Their health matters. Their safety matters. Plus, they have families that they have to support just like everybody else.

I’m sure athletes are taking precautions very seriously. As a matter of fact, there are a number of popular NBA players who have decided to opt out of this upcoming season; they include: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, John Wall, and DeMarcus Cousins. DeAndre Jordan is one of a few players who tested positive for COVID in June, and will also opt out of the upcoming season. Just recently, Russell Westbrook tested positive as well. NBA players are not immune from contracting this virus. Is it really worth it, for them to put their health on the line for the general public’s entertainment?

I do not think so.

Unfortunately, the time we are now living in is our new reality and our new “normal.” Who would have thought we would be living in a time where there were no sports? Everybody is being affected in so many different ways because of COVID, and as much as we would like everything to go back to “normal,” that is not the case. Until things clear up and are more safe, I think fans can wait to be entertained by sports. If we truly care so much about sports, then we should care about our favorite teams and our favorite players. We should care about them being protected and healthy, especially during this time, so that we can enjoy their presence again when this all blows over.

— Leah Crier