NBA Teams to Face Severe Penalties, Paycheck Cuts for Violations of COVID-19 Protocols

By Neil P. First Posted: Dec 06, 2020 05:30 AM EST

The National Basketball Association (NBA) warned all teams and players that they could face severe penalties if they are found violating any of the COVID-19 protocols.

(Photo : Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Adam Silver

The number of COVID-19 infections and the death toll in the country continues to swell. This also affects different sports leagues in the country as players, coaching staff, and other essential persons might be exposed to the virus outside the court.

NBA Warns Teams Could Face Severe Penalties

The NBA has set COVID-19 protocols to ensure that everyone is safe against the virus. The league also wants to make sure that the spread of the virus will be stopped during its early stage. NBA was on a hiatus for months after Rudy Gobert first tested positive for the virus.

NBA is now facing different challenges before the 2020-2021 season begins on Dec. 22. This is after national leagues in the country such as NFL and MLB experienced outbreaks.

To avoid this, NBA sent a strong message to all teams in the league that they could face severe penalties once they violate COVID-19 protocols.

Before the NBA season will begin on Dec. 22, the league already sent 158 pages memo regarding health and safety protocols that everyone must follow.

According to Yard Barker, there will be a surprise and unannounced inspection of team facilities throughout the season to make sure that everyone is following the protocols.

Penalties NBA Teams and Players Could Face

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski revealed some of the consequences that NBA teams and players could face once they violate the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

NBA recognizes that anyone in the league could contract the virus inside and outside the court. Players were already warned that that safety violations could warrant in-season quarantines or reduced paychecks.

Meanwhile, NBA teams might be subject to fines, suspensions, game forfeitures, or even draft-pick penalties. These are just a few of the penalties that both teams and players could face.

Nearly 9% of NBA Players Tested Positive for COVID-19

NBA already started the first round of testing since 2019-2020 concluded. As indicated in a previous report, nearly nine percent or 48 out of 546 players tested positive for the virus, and this even before the pre-season begins.

NBA wants to avoid the outbreaks that everyone has seen so far in other leagues NFL and MBL. NBA officials are worried because the game format is no longer the same as with the previous season after it resumed from a hiatus for months.

Teams and players will no longer be isolated and will not play in the bubble arena. They will travel from one place to the other which means a greater chance of contracting the virus.

However, NBA also stated some of the important measures that players and teams must follow.

For the upcoming season, players are forbidden from going to bars, in-person live entertainment, and game venues. They also can't visit public gyms or indoor gathers with more than 15 people.

When teams are on the road, personnel can only eat out at approved restaurants with outdoor dining or privatized spaces indoors.