The latest reports suggest it could be mid-June, at the earliest, before the Milwaukee Bucks or any other NBA team returns to action.
As the situation continues to evolve worldwide with the coronavirus pandemic, the first reports began to emerge on Sunday night of what those within the league view as a potential timeline for the NBA to resume, which obviously would also mean a return to action for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Of course, with the next few months providing countless unknowables, the NBA can do little more than lay out plans, and make informed guesses, that they hope will be actionable by that time, while fully knowing that obstacles could still remain down the line.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
According to reporting from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, although the league office has yet to provide any kind of official advisories, many teams around the NBA have started to prepare for a possible return in mid-to-late June, with a view to the season finishing in August.
If that timeline was to ultimately prove realistic, it would not signal the return of the NBA as we know it, though. Wojnarowski’s report suggests that not only could games be played behind closed doors, but they even take place at team practice facilities.
"“For now, there’s a working plan that games would return without fans, and teams have been told to search out arena dates well into August for the playoffs, sources said. Teams have been directed to give the league office potential dates at smaller nearby game venues, including team practice facilities, that could spare the use of empty, cavernous arenas and possibly provide backdrops to unique television viewing lines.”"
Further emphasizing the need for the league to be creative to avoid a potential lost season, Wojnarowski noted:
"“Adam Silver is encouraging his league to be open to experimental ideas in every area — scheduling format, venues, television — on how to respond to an unprecedented crisis.”"
Based on the current expectations, ESPN’s Bobby Marks laid out what the NBA schedule could look like for the remainder of this season, and into next year.
Interesting when you lay it out:
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 16, 2020
Mid-June- start of the NBA playoffs
Early August- NBA Finals
End of August- Draft
Sept. 1- Start of FA
Sept. 10- Summer/fall league
Dec. 10- training camp opens
Dec. 25- regular season opens (82 games)
Mid-June- NBA season ends
In terms of more concrete news, the NBA also updated its current policies surrounding player movement during the league’s current hiatus.
As detailed by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, although players under quarantine or self-isolation are required to remain in the team market until they receive the all-clear from a medical professionals, players will otherwise be allowed to leave home markets, provided they stay in contact with team officials and remain in North America.
The ban on group practices has also been extended indefinitely, although players are allowed to work out individually at team facilities.
On that front, recommendations have now been put in place for how interactions between players and coaches at those facilities should be carried out, as Bontemps laid out:
"“The league recommends that specific coaches be assigned to work with specific players to try to minimize the number of people coming into contact with each other. In a further effort to keep people apart, players are asked to stay apart during workouts, including having only one player at each basket and one player weightlifting at a time.”"
For more information about COVID-19, visit the website for the CDC, WHO, or the website for your state’s Department of Health.