Ever since the NBA was shut down on March 11th, players have been worried about what would happen to their paychecks. Of course, most people don't get paid when they don't show up to work, however, NBA players have their own union which allows them to be protected in extreme circumstances such as a pandemic.
It remains to be seen whether or not the season will have to be canceled but in the interim, the NBA and NBPA have been looking to strike a deal in regards to wages. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, both sides have reached a compromise. This deal will see players receive 25 percent less per paycheck, starting on May 15th.
This is a pretty good deal for the players considering the NBA wanted to see a 50 percent reduction in pay and were hoping to start said reduction in April. Now, the players have a bit more breathing room to plan out their finances over the coming weeks. While these players are certainly in much more stable financial positions than the rest of the country, there is no denying that this pandemic has been a shock to them and their livelihood.
If the NBA is forced to cancel the season, we will certainly see some heavier pay cuts in the near future.
NBA Proposes Massive Pay Cut For Players, NBPA Counters
The NBA is looking to enact desperate measures now that players can't play any games.
NBA players are currently stuck at home with nothing to do thanks to the Coronavirus. The virus has infected over a million people around the world and those numbers shoot up every single day. It's a virus that we are all at the mercy of right now and for now, we are in very uncertain times that could cost us all, dearly. Now, the NBA is starting to feel the financial effects of the virus and with a payday coming on April 15th, the NBA is trying to get players to take a massive pay cut.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the NBA wants players to take a 50 percent cut to their salaries starting at the midway point of this month. Unsurprisingly, the National Basketball Players Association is not going for that at all. They countered the proposal with a 25 percent cut starting in mid-May.
The NBA has no clue as to when it will be able to restart the season and at this point, they might have to cancel it. If the virus continues to ravage the United States, we could see no closure until an actual vaccine is made present. However, the NBA has made proposals in regards to the last stretch of the season, including a postseason played in one neutral location, preferably Las Vegas.
Stay tuned for updates on this situation as we will be sure to bring them to you.
