The NBA and the NBPA have agreed to put in place an enhanced insurance plan for players in Orlando, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski, the plan would cover career-ending injuries suffered this summer, whether they’re conventional basketball injuries or somehow related to COVID-19. The potential group policy would cover players for “several million dollars,” Woj adds.
There’s a belief among players that they’ll be at greater risk of injury this summer due to a lengthy hiatus and their limited access to basketball facilities during that layoff.
Players will get a training camp period and will have the opportunity to play a series of intersquad scrimmages in Orlando before the seeding game begin. However, the ramping-up period will look different than a typical fall training camp, as many teams will immediately have to fight for their playoff lives once games begin on July 30.
When Wojnarowski reported earlier this month that several players were pushing for an enhanced insurance plan, he noted that it would be difficult to prove that any injury suffered in Orlando is directly responsible for a reduction in a player’s future earnings unless it directly threatens the player’s career. Based on today’s report, it sounds as if the new agreement will only cover those career-threatening ailments rather than shorter-term injuries.
Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, Kyle Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum were among the players said to be lobbying for enhanced insurance protection. All five are eligible for contract extensions this offseason.
I love how Kuzma got himself included in that group
Kuzma has actually been doing good stuff for the players. On the last episode of the Hoop Collective podcast they talked about the wearable technology the players will need to have on at all times and Kuzma has been one of the vocal players trying to make sure that teams don’t abuse the opportunity to gain intrusive information on players.
Kuzma is not very good though.
I’m not familiar with his objections. But given the way he plays, I suspect he has been looking for excuses for a no-show.
He’s not saying he would no show. They have this special wristband tech and I don’t truly understand how it works, but it tracks a whole bunch of things in your body to better find out if people get the virus before even testing may show. The thing is it can also track a bunch of other bio data and possible track their location and it has to be on them 24/7, so players don’t want teams to take advantage of that data and just like you wouldn’t they don’t want their employers almost spying on them 24/7. The players just want to make sure the data isn’t abused.
I meant that he’s not nearly as good as the other guys who are worried about their extensions
I’m wondering if there is any care or concern for staff who are going? Everyone is sp concerned about the players and their safety or potential earning potential, but I havent heard one ounce of consideration given to training staff, equipment managers etc. They arent making millions, yet are also being pressured (because that’s what it is) to be away from their families for months, for no additional pay, with no insurance policy protecting them if they get very ill… and for what? For entertainment and more money for the rich? If money isn’t the true motivator (as per Silver), then would they really proceed with this falliable plan? No. As family of a staff member, I am beyond upset that my family must choose between going along with a risky and dangerous non essential endeavor or being ostracized at his job (despite this idea that he can decline participation). The NBA is not an essential service, and staff did not sign up for this. Please dont reply with comments suggesting I am whining and should be grateful. I am grateful but legitimately scared and would gladly forego some of my families income to be excused from the potential shit show.
There is concern, but the NBA has to be careful. They talked about coaches who are older and considered whether they should be going and it was met with agism backlash. Silver made comments about Mike D’Antoni, and even though he has since walked those comments back, Jackie MacMullan has talked about D’Antoni’s agent saying they will sue if they feel it affects his ability to get hired. Apparently though there will be a panel of doctors who is screening everyone’s medical history to determine who is allowed in the bubble.
Judges like doctors, so the medical panel was a good idea. It could provide some immunity to the NBA.
But the problem for young “low-income” assistants remains… They will have to expose themselves if they choose to decline.
The bubble-rules have a first-row and second-row division— the second has to wear masks, for one thing.
The biggest problem is the non-team and NBA people the ones who are working at the bubble aren’t subject to the same rules of staying there so they can come and go.
Yes. That is definitely one of the biggest problems. Another big problem is that they are saying that asymptomatic, covid positive players can continue to work out and participate as long as they arent showing symptoms. How is this ok? I personally know several people who have passed away from COVID in NY and many were age 55 or below. We dont know enough about this disease and the “facts” change more frequently than we change underwear. I dont understand why there is not more media coverage of the risks and more outrage among teams and staffs. It’s either fear or greed.
Very limited by the NBA, but also generous given their obligations. The devil is in the details (how much is a payout?). Is this temporary? Did the NBA find a money tree?
Maybe they should do this all the time and reduce the salary cap to pa for it.