Rockets Clyde Drexler doesn’t believe NBA return is best

Houston Rockets great Clyde Drexler doesn’t believe a return to action by the NBA is the best idea, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Although the NBA has been out of action since March, we’ve heard that NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been mulling options to get the playoffs started and get a champion crowned. The NBA has formed a players-only coalition, of which Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook is a part of.

On Friday, the NBA’s plans became a bit more clearer, as we heard that the NBA’s desired return date is July 31st. The league office had previously conducted a players-only survey, in which players were asked whether they want to resume playing or not.

There had also been a survey geared towards general managers and executives, requesting their input about which format they deem best. We’ve certainly seen a cause for optimism, as we’ve seen teams like the Houston Rockets re-open the team facilities to allow players to resume workouts, in anticipation of a return to the hardwood.

Houston Rockets great Clyde Drexler doesn’t believe a return is the safest course of action.

With the league gathering momentum towards a resumption of action, former Houston Rockets great Clyde Drexler doesn’t believe this is the best decision. Drexler expressed his concerns on SportsTalk 790’s afternoon show The A-Team.

“It’s a tough deal, because people are losing their lives. It’s hard to think about playing a game. Every athlete is being affected in every sport, they have people they know who have died from this virus in this pandemic.

So it’s hard to think about playing a game and then trying to be safe while you play. Everything you do in basketball is one-on-one, you’re up close and personal in each other’s face.

So it’s hard to imagine a scenario where you can do something until they have a vaccine or the numbers have gone way down.”

It’s worth noting that Drexler serves as the commissioner of the Big3 league, which has already announced a cancellation of the season. Drexler’s concerns are certainly understandable, as former Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy previously echoed the same sentiments.

The coronavirus has already led to 101,000 deaths and a total of 1.7 million cases, which is what Drexler alluded to. We’ve also heard the players express frustration over how the league has handled the hiatus, which is a valid frustration as well.

At this point, we don’t exactly know what format the league will adopt upon its return, as that’s been sorted out. But its safe to say that no matter the format, Drexler doesn’t exactly believe a return is best.