For many Americans, this is the longest break in sports they’ve ever experienced. As well as the actual sport, you probably miss seeing your favorite sports stars take to the diamond or court. Don’t worry, we have good news – both the MLB and the NBA are planning returns in the near future. We get sport back, we see Mike Trout, LeBron James, and other stars, and the world will seem normal again.
NBA
Firstly, we’ll start with the basketball, which was interrupted in spring with the outbreak of the coronavirus. In fact, it took the cancelling of sport for many people to realize just how serious the COVID-19 pandemic was. On March 11th, Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus and everything halted – just five weeks away from the playoffs.
The pandemic hasn’t gone away, but we’re starting to resume some form of normality as the key figures plan a return for the NBA. Essentially, the league will resume on July 30th…but not as we know it.
Just last week, Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, noted how the community deserves everybody at least ‘trying’ to end the season and crown a champion. How will it work? For the 22 teams with the best record, they will all stay in Orlando and play games at the ESPN facility at Disney World. With each team playing eight games, this will set the seedings. From here, the top 16 teams will compete in the playoffs as normal.
There has been lots of talk as to whether this will actually go ahead, and there’s lots resting on the next couple of days. If players don’t want to participate, they need to notify the league by June 24th. Therefore, we could learn in the coming days whether or not the extravagant plans are indeed possible.
Although the Raptors flew to Orlando earlier this week, teams have until July 6th to check in. Depending on the length of the playoffs, any potential Game 7 in the Finals will take place on October 13th.
MLB
While NBA fans saw their season interrupted, MLB fans have been patiently waiting for a ball game since the Washington Nationals lifted the World Series crown for the first time in their history. Luckily, there was more good news on Tuesday as Robert D Manfred Jr, baseball commissioner, announced a potential return one week before the NBA, on July 23rd or 24th.
Rather than the usual 162 games, teams will play a shortened 60-game schedule. In the press release for the news, the commissioner made assurances to all players and employees involved in baseball that safety is paramount. Therefore, it seems games will only go ahead if a safe return is possible. The MLB is working with infectious disease specialists, public health experts, and providers of technology.
If all goes well, we could just be watching MLB this time next month (with NBA less than one week later!).
