NBA Has No Plans to Pause, Optimistic About February

The NBA is trudging ahead with its schedule despite a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and protocol measures. On Monday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed information regarding the NBA’s approach to January’s increase in COVID-19 measures.

Charania highlighted comments that NBA commissioner Adam Silver made during a call on Dec. 30. Silver’s messaging acknowledged the challenges that January would present, but he maintained optimism that the situation would improve as the calendar turned to February.

“January is going to be the worst month,” Silver told the group, according to sources. “We are optimistic about improvements in February … after we get through the darkest days.”

Outside of Silver’s comments, Charania’s report explained that the NBA is not considering a pause in competition at this time.

Inside the league office, there has been no conversation about pausing the season. Sources said that on the Board of Governors call on Friday, there was discussion about how the NBA’s coronavirus case rate has fared better than the NFL’s at the same juncture of the season, how comfortable fans could be when they’re able to return to arenas and vaccines are more generally available, as well as continuing to be vigilant. The status of the season was not mentioned — at all, sources said.

The Trail Blazers have competed in nine games thus far in the 2020-21 regular season. Prior to the start of the season, Nassir Little endured a weeks-long battle with COVID-19.

You can read the full report from Charania at The Athletic (subscription required).