NBA And Players Association Discussing Loss Of Pay Scenarios

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA and the players association are discussing scenarios that could see the league’s players lose as much as 25 percent of their salary according to ESPN. In light of the coronavirus outbreak that has sidelined the league, the fate of the postponed games hangs in balance of the country’s ability to gain control of the pandemic.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, players could lose approximately one percent of their salaries per game missed due to the virus. As a result of the Force Majeure clause in the latest collective bargaining agreement, a loss of salary would be automatically triggered in light of any canceled games.

Players lose approximately 1 percent of salary per cancelled game based on Force Majeure provision, which covers several catastrophic circumstances, including epidemics/pandemics. Once/if there’s a cancellation of games, Force Majeure automatically triggers under language of CBA. https://t.co/JWbj9q7Can

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 1, 2020

Players will be paid their full expected salaries as of April 1 but may be required to repay their salaries for any missed games during the hiatus if the contests aren’t made up.

Further complicating further scheduling for the NBA are the continued bans on large gatherings put in place by cities that hold league franchises. On Tuesday, the city of Toronto outlawed public gatherings through June 30th.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in response to the provincial emergency order to prohibit organized public events and gatherings of more than five people, the City of Toronto has cancelled all mass events and permits through to June 30. News release: https://t.co/yYjLq2yS0x pic.twitter.com/1tlOse6NEa

— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) March 31, 2020

A later tweet from the cities account implied that the ban did not apply to sporting events, though it’s not hard to imagine a scenario when any large gathering is banned depending on the containment of the virus.

If even one of the league’s 30 teams faced a city-wide ban it could force the NBA to relocate that franchise’s home games to a safer market to make up the final 20 games of the season.

Previously, the NBAPA had said it did not expect to see salaries reduced in light of the pandemic.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.