NBA and Players Association Meet Thursday on Resuming Season

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that plans to resume the NBA season are moving forward.  According to an unnamed source the AP reports that the National Basketball Association and the Players Association will meet Thursday in an effort to come to an agreement to restart the season.

NBA play was suspended on March 11.  Thursday's presentation to the Board of Governors will outline a plan to include 22 teams. The source tells AP that 22 teams will report to the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at the Disney complex near Orlando.

According to the AP the 22 teams would play eight games to decide payoff seeding.  Under the proposal 13 teams from the Western Conference will compete with another nine teams taking part from the Eastern Conference.

Nothing is finalized but at least the two sides appear close on agreement.  A big part of the proposal is agreeing on player compensation.  Both sides also of course need to finalize plans on testing and player and support personnel safety. At least to start it appears that games will be played with no fans in attendance.

Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz was the first NBA player to test positive for the Coronavirus.  Following word of that positive test the NBA suspended its schedule "until further notice."

The NBA's move forward comes as talks between MLB (owners) and the Player's Association continue.  The latest announced news came on Sunday when the Player's Association countered a proposal from MLB.  The NHL is still trying to pin down the  logistics of restarting their season.  Meanwhile, the NFL has made plans on moving forward to open their training facilities and keep the regular season schedule.