Wisconsin Herd: G League season officially canceled
By Adam McGee
With the NBA’s plans getting owner approval, the Wisconsin Herd’s season officially came to an end on Thursday as the G League was finally canceled.
The past few months have been packed with vast uncertainty in all areas of life, and that has certainly extended to sports too.
When it comes to professional basketball in America, though, nowhere has that been more apparent than in the G League. While its long been clear that the NBA at least intends to complete their season, the G League has been left waiting in something of a limbo.
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That uncertainty will likely have been felt particularly keenly by Milwaukee Bucks’ affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, who had compiled not just the best campaign in their young history to date, but were also proud owners of the G League’s best record on the season to date.
Finally, on Thursday, news that provides some closure arrived, although it certainly comes tinged with disappointment for a team such as the Herd.
The G League officially confirmed the cancelation of the remainder of the 2019-20 season in a statement released on the league’s website, putting an end to a saga that’s dragged on since games were last played on March 12.
Speaking in that statement, G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim said the following:
"“While canceling the remainder of our season weighs heavily on us, we recognize that it is the most appropriate action to take for our league. I extend my sincere gratitude to NBA G League players and coaches for giving their all to their teams and fans this season. And to our fans, I thank you and look forward to resuming play for the 2020-21 season.”"
One important detail that wasn’t included in the league’s statement was reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, that being that the G League has paid its players for what remained of the season and extended their health benefits accordingly.
With the G League finally canceled, the Wisconsin Herd will miss out on a chance to win a championship and what would have been their first playoff appearance.
Although there has yet to be any statement from the Herd, themselves, the Oshkosh club won’t have been surprised by what’s long seemed like an inevitable disappointment, but likely can’t help but feel disappointed all the same.
With a record of 33-10, the Herd were comfortably top of the Eastern Conference and holding the league’s best record overall when play was suspended.
Even more frustratingly, after a disappointing first two seasons in existence, the Herd were already due to be playoff-bound for 2019-20, having clinched their inaugural playoff berth back at the beginning of March.
Alas, those playoff games now won’t be played and so the wait will go on for postseason basketball in Fox Valley.
Next. Bucks will need just one win to clinch top seed at Walt Disney World. dark
With head coach Chase Buford set to return for next season, at least Herd fans do still have plenty to look forward to.