While no official confirmation of the NBA resuming play has been given, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James offered an emphatic denial that any thought to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 season has been offered.
Saw some reports about execs and agents wanting to cancel season??? That’s absolutely not true. Nobody I know saying anything like that. As soon as it’s safe we would like to finish our season. I’m ready and our team is ready. Nobody should be canceling anything. 👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 30, 2020
The NBA suspended play on March 11 after the first case of a player contracting the coronavirus was confirmed, with the Lakers having the best record in the Western Conference at the time with a 49-14 mark.
Since then, there have been a handful of updates from the NBA, which at no time have indicated that a cancellation of the season is imminent. Given the span of time since play was suspended, any resumption of play seems likely to begin with the start of the postseason.
Whether such a plan would involve the standard 16-team playoff format or offer a reduced number of squads competing for a title is also something that’s yet to be answered.
Considering the Lakers’ position in the overall standings, James and his teammates want very much to have the opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. That’s especially true for a Lakers franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2013 and last won a league title in 2010.
The timeline to resume play is getting tighter with each passing day, with offseason aspects such as dates for the NBA draft and the beginning of free agency likely to be moved back.
The Lakers have taken some steps toward getting back to practicing, working with Los Angeles city officials to ensure that all safety factors are taken into consideration. However, until the NBA gives the go-ahead to resume the season, all teams remain in limbo.
