Almost '100 per cent' NBA resumes without fans - reports

Image: Giannis Antetokounmpo posts up against the Hornets

If the NBA regular season resumes, it is almost "100 per cent" the games will be played without fans present, according to reports.

Coronavirus updates: Live updates

Stay up to date as the world of sports battles the coronavirus pandemic

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the NBA will very likely mimic the plan being used in China for a potential end to the current hiatus, which began March 12.

In China, the plan for professional basketball to resume includes keeping players in a centralised, isolated location or shared hotel to limit the chance they come in contact with any infected person.

Follow Sky Sports NBA on Twitter

See the NBA's best plays and stay up to date with the latest news

Ideas being floated include playing all the games at a neutral site, such as Las Vegas, the Bahamas or even a college campus in the Midwest where the outbreak, to this point, has been mild, according to the report.

The idea would be to refit a casino or grand ballroom of a resort into made-for-TV events.

Advertisement
Image: Lebron James in action for the Lakers

LeBron James spoke out against the idea that NBA games would be played in empty arenas or without fans again on Thursday.

"If LeBron James wants to play for a championship this year he is going to have to reset his expectations," Windhorst said. "That's what China is looking at - clustering teams in a bubble where they can be protected. LeBron is the voice of the rest of the league. He is speaking with emotion the way he sees it.

Also See:

Join our NBA group on Facebook

Sign up and join the NBA conversation in our Facebook group

"The reality is, if the NBA comes back, at least in the short term, it's going to be in empty arenas or empty aircraft hangars where they just put down a court. That's something players are going to have to start getting their minds around."

Want to watch even more of the NBA but don't have Sky Sports? Get the Sky Sports Action and Arena pack, click here.

Outbrain