[Report] Small-Market NBA Teams Urge League To Include Them In Restart Plans
The NBA continues to work on a plan to safely resume the 2019-20 season, but Oklahoma City Thunder Clay Bennett presented a strong request for the Board of Governors.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe of ESPN, Bennett explained that the NBA and its owners had "to consider the competitive and financial plights of smaller-market teams that could be left out of the season's summer resumption in Orlando, Florida".
The report outlined that Bennett was pondering a way to bring back every single team. His concern is that having no basketball games from March to December may "have an impact on developing players, cultivating sponsorships and selling tickets in markets where franchises struggle to gain a hold."
It was also noted that Josh Harris (Philadelphia 76ers) and Robert Sarver (Phoenix Suns) were among the owners who "enthusiastically backed Bennett's call."
Wojnarowski also reported Monday that the NBA is focusing on a plan that will bring back 22 teams to finish out the 2019-20 campaign, with the expectation that it'll "overwhelmingly pass."
A play-in format is being examined, per Wojnarowski, similar to what the NHL proposed in their return to play plan. Last week, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman revealed a 24-team postseason format; the top four teams in each conference will receive first-round byes, while the remaining 16 teams will square off in best-of-five qualifying rounds.
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Last month, it was reported that the NBA could lose around $900 million in national television revenue if there was no 2020 postseason. Reports have suggested that the NHL may lose $1 billion if they don't finish out 2019-20.
Several of the NBA's biggest superstars took part in a call last month to discuss a resumption of the 2019-20 season. The meeting included NBPA president Chris Paul, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.
Before the 2019-20 season went on pause, the Milwaukee Bucks held the best record in the NBA at 53-12, and the Orlando Magic (30-35) held the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers led the Western Conference with a 49-14 record, while the Memphis Grizzlies held the eighth seed at 32-33.
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