CDC recommends no public gatherings of over 50 people for next two months; NBA hopes to return by June.

Earlier today, the CDC announced their recommendations of no public gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks in the United States in response to the spread of COVID-19.

The NBA suspended their season Wednesday night after the news of Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19 when the Jazz were in Oklahoma City. Since then, two more NBA players have tested positive in Donovan Mitchell and Christian Wood.

The next night, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated how the league will re-evaluate its decision in 30 days. Many saw the 30 day re-evaluation window as hope that the season would return relatively soon.

But with the CDC dropping that news today, the status of the 2019-20 NBA season is up in the air. Woj reported that owners around the league are hoping for a June return and wrapping the season up in August.

It looks like playing in empty arenas is out of the picture for the next couple months as even essential team personnel and the players/coaching staff would make up far more than 50 people.

This news will lead to massive ramifications for the league year as it would push everything back and could shorten the 2020-21 season as well. The NBA would barely be starting their Finals in a time where teams would start wrapping up their offseasons. Plus the players need their rest, it’s unrealistic and unfair to ask your players to start the next season almost immediately as this season ends. How the league will handle Free Agency and The Draft is a wait and see situation. The more news that drops, the more likely the possibility of the NBA just canceling this season and starting a new slate with next season looks likely.