Dallas Mavericks And The NBA Face Many Challenges Before Games Can Resume

Coronavirus upended the NBA season on March 11. In the weeks since, reports surrounding efforts to resume play have remained steady, albeit chaotic. Now, it looks increasingly like the league has the basics of a plan in place that its beginning to pursue. Yet, even with an outline, the league and many teams, like the Dallas Mavericks, face numerous challenges before they can resume basketball activities and start playing games again.

The NBA is in talks to establish a single-location to host its teams and games, which would clear one of the biggest obstacles confronting the league’s restart plans. NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass announced on May 23 that the league is looking at Orlando, Florida as its desired location.

“The NBA, in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association,” Bass said in a statement, “is engaged in exploratory conversations with The Walt Disney
DIS
Company about restarting the 2019-20 NBA season in late July at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida as a single site for an NBA campus for games, practices and housing.”

Disney, which is one of the two primary television partners of the NBA, and its resort in Orlando became early frontrunners to land the NBA. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did his part, solidifying its viability by welcoming the various professional sports leagues to play in the state.

“All these professional sports are going to be welcome in Florida,” DeSantis said on May 13. “And so, what I would tell commissioners of leagues is, ‘If you have a team in an area where they just won’t let them operate, we’ll find a place for you here in the state of Florida.’”

Las Vegas was also under consideration. It’s home to the league’s official gaming partner, MGM Resorts International, and hosts the annual summer league tournament.  

Although nothing is official yet, the NBA’s announcement is a good indicator that talks are progressing well. Another sign that the league is moving forward is the number of teams—17 to date—that reopened their practice facilities for voluntary workouts. It’s here, the league hopes, where teams will hold training camps before the resumption of the season.

Even though the Mavericks could have reopened their facilities on May 8, they have yet to do so. The team doesn’t even have a timeline in place as owner Mark Cuban chooses to remaincautious, not wanting to move too fast and potentially risk the health and safety of his players.

“We won’t do anything till we know we can make it safe,” Cuban said.

Safely reopening the practice facilities is just one of the challenges facing the Mavericks. Currently, not all their players are in town. They have been allowed to travel outside of their home markets since March 16 with team permission. One such player that did so is Luka Doncic.

Doncic reportedly returned home to his native Slovenia and reentering the United States won’t be a simple process. Slovenians, as well as many other nationalities, are currently barred from entering the country. However, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf signed an order on May 22 exempting certain professional athletes from proclamations forbidding their entry. The NBA and the Mavericks will have to seek approval from the Department to ensure Doncic’s return.   

Upon arrival, he will still be subject to all applicable laws and regulations governing those entering the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. This includes guidelines from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that recommend that travelers quarantine themselves for 14 days.

It’s unknown how many players chose to travel abroad during the NBA’s hiatus. There are over 100 foreign nationals in the league. The Mavericks have six on their roster.

Besides national reentry, Florida also mandates a 14-day quarantine for all persons entering the state from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Louisiana. This will affect the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. The NBA’s offices are also based in New York. ESPN, which is owned by Disney, is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut. Players who have spent time there are also subject to quarantine.  

Reopening training facilities, requesting permission for foreign players to reenter the country and abiding by Florida’s quarantine regulations are are nuisances. The real danger that the league hopes to avoid is the continued spread of COVID-19 among its ranks.

After several players and media personalities contracted the virus in recent months, the league must to all it can to ensure everyone’s safety. Testing will have to be administered regularly. However, it’s uncertain that the NBA can even get the number of tests it requires to do so, especially without public outcry.

Still, with so many hurdles, the NBA is moving forward with a preliminary plan to resume its season. While the games will provide entertainment and serve as a distraction for those who remain isolated at home, the league’s focus remains the well-being of the players and personnel.

“Our priority continues to be the health and safely of all involved,” Bass said, “and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place.”