Rockets Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t believe NBA return is best idea

Superstars not wanting to play?

Throughout all of this, we’ve yet to hear a player say they didn’t want to return to action. In fact, the NBA did a survey to the players questioning if they wanted to play or not and the overwhelming response was that the players did want to get back to action.

LeBron James has been the leader of that train, as he’s stated on numerous occasions that everyone who he’s talked to has stated that they want to get back on the hardwood. But what if there are marquee players who don’t feel safe or comfortable getting back on the floor? It’s not like they would just come out and say that, especially with so many of the league’s top players making it known that they do want to get back on the court.

The former Houston Rockets coach pointed out the possibility of a star player not wanting to play, which has to be considered also.

“I think the one thing that I’m a little concerned about is what if a star or two decides not to play? They’re just so fearful of potentially contracting the virus that they decide not to play. Does everybody else continue on or does that spur more fear?

I think it would be interesting because it would throw off the complete balance of power and it goes back to the idea of are we crowning a legitimate champion. So you’d have to be very, very concerned if one of the top 20 players in the NBA who you would think would be in the playoffs decided not to play, and/or couldn’t play by contracting the virus.

So I think fortunately when you look out at the landscape right now, you haven’t had anybody say it yet. In fact you’ve had LeBron come out and say when it’s safe, he can’t wait to get back there. And I think the star players have alot of sway, not just over NBA policy, but how their teammates and other players feel about the risk.

Adam Silver said something really good; it’s not going to be perfectly safe, it has to be acceptably safe. And I think that’s a big distinction for every player, coach, referee. They’re going to have to decide for themselves and it just concerns me about the possibility that some may not want to play.”

Next: Infections to continue