Will Utah Jazz Players Lose Paychecks During Coronavirus Hiatus?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Will Utah Jazz players lose money during the NBA’s hiatus? That is one question that will have to be answered in the near future as the league enters a moratorium period after the coronavirus outbreak that hit Jazz players particularly hard.

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were the first two players in the NBA to test positive coronavirus leading to a league-wide suspension of the remaining schedule.

On Thursday night, commissioner Adam Silver joined Inside the NBA on TNT to discuss the initial plans for the league hiatus. Silver also released a letter outlining the league’s immediate plans during the suspension.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the timetable for the league’s suspension. pic.twitter.com/tterVvR29r

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 13, 2020

“This hiatus will be most likely, at least 30 days,” Silver said, “And we don’t know enough as you all said to be more specific than that.”

Meanwhile, the NBA Players Association has reached out to the league’s players to inform them of a potential scenario in which owners are no longer required to pay them a percentage of their salary.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement states in the case of a force majeure event (superior force) the league’s owners may not be required to pay the players their entire salary if the rest of the season is canceled.

In email to players, the NBPA spelled out terms on a doomsday provision included in CBA that could free owners from paying players a percentage of their salaries should rest of season be lost to the coronavirus pandemic. Story on ESPN: https://t.co/s3cQSqCN8w

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 13, 2020

According to ESPN there has been no discussion yet of the owners fulfiling the clause. The league’s players are due to receive their next paychecks this Sunday.

Under the force majeure event clause, players would forfeit 1/92.6th of their game check for each game missed. With roughly 20 games left on each team’s schedule plus additional playoff pay, NBA players could be set to lose millions of dollars according to the website spotrac.com that tracks salaries for professional athletes.

The #NBA CBA states that if games are cancelled, players will forfeit 1/92.6th of their salary per game missed (5 preseason, 82 reg. season , 5.2 postseason).

In other words if basketball doesn’t resume this season, LeBron James will lose about $8.95M.

Suspended!=Cancelled

— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 12, 2020

NBA players typically get paid bi-weekly throughout the season , though players are free to negotiate alternative payment schedules including large lumps sums at certain points throughout the season.

For now, NBA players appear set to receive their expected pay but as the hiatus stretches on, the league owners and NBA Players Association may have to come to a new agreement.

Portland Trailblazers guard CJ McCollum alluded the possibility of a cease in pay as soon as the league’s schedule was haulted.

No games no pay 👀 hope everybody saved properly https://t.co/mxrdpvNalf

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) March 12, 2020

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• 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.

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