While NBA players, owners and fans are anxious to see their sport resume, many are asking hard questions about what athletes should be sacrificing for the possibility to play.
Since the NBA paused its season on the evening of March 11th, the world has been swept by the pandemic as well as a wave of social protests passionately focusing America’s attention on issues of police violence and racial justice. Now, as the nation’s professional basketball leagues and players debate if and how to safely resume play, the uncomfortable but essential question must be asked:
Are the basketball leagues’ owners, teams and fans sufficiently demonstrating that Black athletes’ lives matter?
The question has taken on greater urgency as several players have expressed growing concern regarding the leagues’ plans to resume play in Orlando. In a call Zoom call Friday evening, approximately 80 players, including some players from the WNBA, had an animated discussion in which several players, led in part by Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving, expressed doubts about proposed plans. In subsequent days, Los Angeles Laker Dwight Howard also expressed his concerns about playing in the current environment, and many more players are commenting privately about their hesitation regarding NBA and WNBA’s unfinalized plans.
While many players are unquestionably interested in returning to play, others are concerned about both the fundamental financial, safety and social aspects of the restart plan. Many players are also openly questioning whether going into “the bubble” in Orlando is the most effective way to also express their own personal purpose at this highly emotional and transformational time in the country’s history.
At a time when the issue of racial equity is at the forefront of the country’s minds, there are also real questions about whether the leagues and owners are equitably considering the impact of reopening on the athletes, particularly as a majority of both league’s rosters are Black. Reports of the initial offers by the league also have many players openly wondering whether their lives and well-being are being sacrificed for the financial benefit of the leagues and emotional needs of their fans.
Put more bluntly, for those desperately seeking the return of professional sports, the question is this: is it fair to ask a group of predominately Black athletes to make their own sacrifice in order to distract a nation that has important issues to focus on?
Many believe no.
Much has been written about NBA negotiations, but perhaps the discussions around the WNBA are illustrative. Reports have suggested that the initial proposal offered by the WNBA would pay players 60% of their salary, and require players to share a roommate for the duration of their over three months in the “bubble,” without the opportunity to bring a partner or spouse to stay with them. While subsequent negotiations modified the pay proposal up to 100% of salary as well as the inclusion of a “plus-one” for players with over five years of service, the modified terms only came after players insisted on them. And even now, players will be expected to cover the cost of their partners joining them in the “bubble.
