The NBA’s season restart plans are taking shape, but so is opposition among players. Plus: the latest MLB proposals; one hub city down for the NHL; 9 AM ET MLS and more.
NBA season restart timeline shifts; player opposition mulled
The NBA’s timeline for a potential return to play has shifted slightly, with games now tentatively scheduled to resume on July 30 instead of July 31, the playoffs set to begin August 17 instead of August 18, and the NBA Finals set to conclude as late as October 13, rather than October 12. The Finals is still set to begin September 30, though all dates could move up depending on the length of earlier series.
ESPN was first to report the earlier July 30 start.
The league’s restart plans were overshadowed Friday by news that a faction of players — led by Nets G Kyrie Irving — are expressing misgivings about, and even open opposition to, a return. The primary point of contention appears to be that returning to play will disrupt recent efforts to address racial inequality, though concerns about health and freedom of movement under the NBA’s “bubble” plan are also said to be issues. [ESPN 6.11, The Athletic 6.12]
MLB not budging off of cuts to players’ prorated salaries
Major League Baseball on Friday sent the MLB Players Association a proposal for a 72-game regular season in which players would receive 70-80% of their pro-rated salaries, depending on whether the postseason is completed. The proposal is in response to a union plan for an 89-game season in which players would receive 100% of their prorated salaries. According to The Athletic, the amount of money players would earn under the MLB plan is roughly equivalent to what they would make under a 48-game season at 100% salary — a possibility that has been generally regarded as a last resort if no agreement is reached. [The Athletic 6.12]
NHL to pick Las Vegas as one hub city
The NHL will select Las Vegas as one of its two “hub cities” for the planned start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this summer, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Rogers SportsNet. The decision will be announced June 22 per the former, though it could come earlier per the latter. According to SportsNet, the NHL would prefer that the other hub city be based in Canada. [SportsNet 6.12, Las Vegas Review-Journal 6.12]
Plus: MLS return, The Basketball Tournament, PGA Tour, Serie A
Major League Soccer announced this week that its resumption of play tournament in Orlando — titled the “MLS is Back Tournament” — is scheduled begin July 8 and run through August 11. Matches would air each day at 9 AM, 8 PM and 10:30 PM ET in order to avoid the Florida heat. … ESPN announced this week that it has reached a multi-year contract extension to continue airing The Basketball Tournament, which this year will take place in a single location over 11 days from July 4-14. … Starting Saturday, ESPN+ will stream featured hole coverage of PGA Tour events each weekend through the end of the the FedEx Cup in September. … ESPN’s linear TV networks will carry up to four Serie A (Italian soccer) matches per week starting June 22. In addition, ESPN will air the Coppa Italia Final this coming Wednesday. [MLS 6.10, ESPN PR 6.12 a, b, 6.11]
