The National Basketball Players Association denied the other day that it asked members if they want 鈥渢o try and play again this season.鈥 Its statement, coming within hours of ESPN scribe Adrian Wojnarowski鈥檚 tweet disclosing the 鈥測es or no鈥 query its regional representatives supposedly sent its ranks via text messages, was, however, notable for construction. 鈥淭he NBPA is not engaging in and has not authorized any formal poll of its players,鈥 it said. Which is to say it could have engaged its constituency exactly as reported: in an informal, non-scientific manner.
To be sure, the NBPA has its reasons for splitting hairs. It supports the move of Commissioner Adam Silver to try and salvage the league鈥檚 2019鈥20 campaign, but under terms that protect the players鈥 safety and health. And, in this regard, it needs consensus — of which its pursuit cannot be seen as haphazard. That said, it stood to benefit from a straw vote, which, at the very least, would have given it the temperature of its membership base. Never mind that conventional wisdom seems to point to the right answer; save for those already eliminated from playoff contention, the continuation of competition stands as the most viable option.
The obvious benefit cannot be denied. Asterisk or no, the championship is still up in the air, and those with legitimate chances to claim it will want to exhaust all options for the resumption of the season. Even an amended schedule is better than none at all. And it isn鈥檛 simply because contenders don鈥檛 want to see the work they already put in laid to waste; even without dwelling on the past, they understand the importance of building for the future. Very rarely in a career is an opportunity to make history for the taking. Are there dangers? Yes. Can the dangers be minimized, if not altogether eradicated? That鈥檚 what players want to know — precisely because they鈥檙e keen to burn rubber anew.
Understandably, the degree of investment is directly tied to the relative returns. Those whose teams have already been eliminated from the postseason won鈥檛 be keen to exert extraordinary effort for an endeavor that all but reduces them to practice scrubs. That said, they鈥檒l be good soldiers if for no other reason than because the medium term is likewise at stake. As Laker Jared Dudley noted in response to Wojnarowski鈥檚 post, 鈥淣o playoffs, no tv money, NEW CBA next year!鈥
Clearly, a lot still needs to happen between now and then. That鈥檚 what the NBPA wants to ascertain beyond dipstick surveys and verbal approvals. And because of the evident tradeoffs, the 鈥渇ormal poll鈥 it spoke of will come — hopefully sooner than later, and bearing results fans can accept.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since 大象传媒 introduced a Sports section in 1994.
