Odds Released on Whether NBA Season Will Resume Before or After April 15th

• The NBA season has been postponed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 outbreak
• Utah was set to meet OKC in a game on Wednesday night before it was frantically halted just before tip off as Jazz C Rudy Gobert had tested positive
• Team owners are encouraging the NBA to re-consider 30-day minimum suspension; should you bet on the season resuming fairly soon?

The NBA has been postponed indefinitely, and for a minimum of 30 days, following positive coronavirus tests for two Utah Jazz players. The Jazz were due to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, but the game was called off at the last second.

In a  prop bet on when the regular season will resume, the first regular season game after March 11th will count for grading purposes, and any bets placed on the day the league’s resumption becomes public knowledge will be voided.

Odds on When the 2019-20 NBA Season Will Resume

Odds taken Mar. 12th

NBA Acts Quickly in Wake of Gobert’s Test Result

Unlike other sports governing bodies around the world, the NBA acted quickly. The Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets game was already scheduled to be played behind closed doors, but when Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus, Adam Silver suspended operations.

There was uncertainty at the Jazz’s game in Oklahoma City, with players leaving the court just before tip-off was due. Mixed media reports came through before the game was called off.

Prior to tip-off as the game was delayed, Chris Paul ran over to the Utah bench and said “what’s wrong with Rudy?” and they all yelled for him to get away. Now all the players are quarantined in their locker rooms, being tested for the virus.

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 12, 2020

Playing in front of empty stands had been mentioned frequently throughout the week. Some owners haven’t been keen, and LeBron James was initially against the idea. Once players started testing positive for coronavirus, it was inevitable that games would be postponed.

Uncertain Timeline

The NBA will be shut down for 30 days before a re-assessment of the situation. Vincent Goodwill reported that some believe every NBA player will be tested for COVID-19 in the meantime.

Any further cases among players would likely the timeline. The Toronto Raptors are already in quarantine following their recent game with the Jazz, and it’s possible that Gobert was not the first player with coronavirus. People can pass on the virus before they are showing any symptoms – until tests are carried out, we do not know how many people involved with NBA franchises have the virus.

Instagram post from Rudy Gobert, the player whose positive coronavirus test sparked the NBA to suspend the season: pic.twitter.com/R0MDHbPaI4

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) March 12, 2020

Some may think the suspension to be a bit drastic, but there’s no guarantee the league will return once that initial period is up, despite owners wanting the NBA to re-consider, per Adrian Wojnarowski.

COVID-19 is moving quickly. It has led to soccer leagues being postponed across Europe and MLB Spring Training being halted. The NBA will be ultra-cautious about starting games back up.

Donovan Mitchell, on Instagram, thanks folks who have reached out since the news of his positive test for COVID-19.”Hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realize they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and the well being of those around them..” pic.twitter.com/78n6HBk78v

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) March 12, 2020

The Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks were reluctant to play games behind closed doors without a ‘formal governmental mandate’, per Wojnarowski. Opposition to playing behind closed doors could lengthen the league’s suspension if that’s seen as a way to get games being played again.

Long Wait in Store

Speculation about the resumption of the season is all over the internet. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban thinks games could be played as late as August. The NBA will be desperate to complete the season, and minimize this period without games.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban just told us on @GetUpESPN that his expectation is that the NBA season will not be canceled – just postponed – and that he could could see NBA games going as late as August this year.

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) March 12, 2020

Getting the league started again before April 15th seems wildly ambitious, however. Playing games in front of empty stands might be the best option, but even if owners agree to it, the way it is spreading, it seems unlikely the league will be ready to restart in just over a month.

It’s a period of major uncertainty. Adam Silver made the right decision to suspend league operations, and while they are under financial pressure to get games played, Silver clearly has his priorities right.