LeBron James is optimistic the coronavirus-hit NBA season will resume and admits he’ll struggle to find closure if it doesn’t. Also he no longer opposes playing behind closed doors in empty arenas.
The NBA shut up shop on March 11 shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the USA.
With 395,011 positive cases in the US, 12,754 deaths and the graphs still climbing, basketball remains dormant. And it could stay that way for some time.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league will not be able to come to any decision regarding the season until May at best.
James’ Los Angeles Lakers had played 63 of their 82-game regular season games when their campaign was halted. And they were top of the Western Conference at the time. James, is going to be a really unhappy man if the season is not completed
“I won’t be able to have any closure”
“I don’t know if I will be able to have any closure,” the 35-year-old three-time, NBA Champion and MVP told reporters Wednesday
James, a towering 6ft. 9in., 250 lb. power forward, was initially against the idea of playing games without fans behind closed doors. This is no longer the case.
If and when the current season does restart, James will now be happy playing in empty arenas with only TV cameras and personal and a handful of officials present
“If it comes to a point where we’re playing without our fans, I’m sure we’ll still know we have the Laker faithful with us in spirit.
“We know they’ll be home cheering us on, online, on their phones, on their tablets watching us playing. So hopefully we can bottle that energy we’ll be getting from them.
“We’ll bottle the fan loyalty”
“Yes, we’ll bottle the loyalty that they’ve had not only this year, but ever since the Lakers have been in Los Angeles.
“Hopefully we’re able to channel that energy, channel that focus and bring them with us. This either at Staples without fans or somewhere else in isolation.”
The NBA is reportedly exploring the possibility of holding the entire postseason in one location – Las Vegas. It is one of the few venues that will have sufficient accommodation to house all the teams.
“I believe once (the pandemic) is under control and they allow us to resume some type of activity, I would love to get the season back and up and running again,” James, continued.
“I feel like we’re in a position where we can get back and start to compete for a championship. We can get back to doing what we love to do. And that’s to make our Laker faithful proud of us.”
James at his brilliant best this season
After a difficult first season with Los Angeles, James bounced right back into to his brilliant best form for the Lakers this season. So much so, the 35-year-old veteran’s performances have catapulted him into the mix for another MVP award.
At the time of the NBA suspending the league, James had been averaging 25.7 points, 10.6 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game. Also his inspiring charisma and huge appetite for basketball had helped the Lakers top the Western Conference.
“I can already have some satisfaction on what our team has been able to do this year, he has insisted. “And this in spite of having a first-year coach, a first-year system, a whole new coaching staff. Also in bringing on so many new pieces to our team,” James said.
“Doing the things that I honestly — like I told you guys all year – thought was not possible. I honestly didn’t think that we could be able to come together as fast as we did.
“I thought it would take us a lot longer. But I was wrong. I was very wrong about that.”
When LeBron decided to turn an NBA game into a highlight tape ???????? #BestOfLakersBulls pic.twitter.com/qVzG9ZnLJF
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 8, 2020