Brian Windhorst was ‘scolded’ for saying NBA would cancel season

Like most other sports leagues, the NBA is still in the process of monitoring the coronavirus outbreak to determine if it will be possible to resume the season. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said there have been growing indications that the remainder of the 2019-20 season will be canceled, and apparently the league did not appreciate his take on the situation.

Windhorst said on his “Hoop Collective” podcast this week that he was “scolded” by both the NBA and the NBA Players Association for being pessimistic about the prospect of the season resuming.

“I’ve spent every day for the last 10 or 15 days talking to people in the league about what it will take to get to return to play,” Windhorst said, as transcribed by Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amico. “I have heard so many different opinions on so many different things.

“I don’t know if it makes someone who is aware or my mind is too cluttered. I’ve swung from optimism to pessimism and I’ve been scolded by both the league office and the union for being pessimistic. Scolded!”

Windhorst reported recently that the recent discussions between the NBA and team owners have indicated “the pessimism is really growing” with regard to whether or not the season will be completed. That seems like an obvious assessment given that the coronavirus pandemic is still at its peak in the United States, but the NBA clearly wants fans to remain optimistic and engaged.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently hinted at what it will take for the season to resume. The longer the pandemic lingers, the more the NBA will have to think about the impact on not only this year’s but also next year’s schedule.