Windhorst: NBA Has Information Blackout Right Now

[RealGM Wiretap]

While there have been a number of positive COVID-19 tests reported amongst players this week, we do not know the full extent of the virus within the NBA community. Many within the media have speculated there's been large numbers of positive tests both in March and more recently in June that have not been reported by the media.

"We're in a bit of a difficult spot in the media here because we don't have access to the teams right now," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast. "We're not permitted into the facilities so we can't go in there. One of the things you do is you physically count who's there. We're not going to be able to know who got sick. And I respect that they have privacy that we shouldn't necessarily be reporting on guys getting sick like this, however, the teams have not been announcing. Some teams have made announcements, but most teams have not. 

"And so we really don't know how many people actually are sick and we're not going to have access to them for a long time. So what's happening with this virus in the league right now is under a shroud. We don't know how much it is. And as I talk to some teams out there, you know, this sounds a little bit crude, but some teams are saying, 'Look, we have guys that are positive. It's okay, because we want to identify them.'

"I'm not saying the NBA is trying to achieve herd immunity, but when they setup their schedule, they clearly built in time for guys to test and quarantine before they go to Florida. That's why the quarantine is now. Or why the testing was this week and you don't go to Florida until July 7th, 8th or 9th. They built in time for people to be identified and to be quarantined.

"Adam Silver has not given a press conference in... two months? He's had some media appearances. He's done an interview with Ernie Johnson. He did an interview with Mike Greenberg. But he's not sat there and faced questions for two months. When they announced that the owners had passed the measure to move on to restart the season, they said he would be available within a few days. Well, that's been almost three weeks.

"And like I'm not pointing a finger and saying there's something nefarious going on. There's an information blackout right now. Because of the rules of the road, we're not able to really infiltrate it. So I can't really accurately tell you where the league is with this virus. And I don't know how long it's going to be until I can. I don't know whether that should be concerning or not... It would also be good to know exactly how the NBA is managing this and I don't have a good feel for it."

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[popfan]

Though there is certainly a lack of transparency, the following seems evident when you read articles from pro-NBA outlets like RealGM.

First the NBA owners are tightly coupled with the political agenda of Donald Trump. Second the NBA is carefully reporting the news about itself. For example the farcical blaming of Rudy Gorbert for the outbreak was well orchestrated across the US media. Another example is the conspicuous lack of reporting on Luka Doncic's disinterest in returning for the reboot. Third where President & CEO Jordi Bertomeu of Spain clearly runs Euroleague, NBA commish Adam Silver is merely a puppet to the current cohort of NBA owners. Though the owners hide behind Silver, the commish is powerless. Fourth the NBA owners continue to threaten billion dollar losses if the NBA players don't agree to a reboot, a clear indication of a bitter division between the owners and players. There are have been at least three redundant articles over the past few months promising these losses; each such article comes within 24 hours of anti-reboot news. Why do we need to read the same news three times? Because it's not news...it's a threat from owners that RealGM gladly "reports."

European news outlets are fantastic at offering new sources of information. For instance Tomas Satoransky has bitterly complained about the reboot, how unfair it is for most foreign NBA players to be detained in the US during the pandemic. You won't find this on RealGM/RealGS. More generally you won't find a single article from the US media that is critical of how the owners have treated foreign players during the pandemic.

While this article complains about the lack of visibility, the truth is that the US media regularly conspires to protect the NBA owners by withholding news. Both the NBA owners and the US sports media withhold.

[the13thjoker]

Though there is certainly a lack of transparency, the following seems evident when you read articles from pro-NBA outlets like RealGM.

First the NBA owners are tightly coupled with the political agenda of Donald Trump. Second the NBA is carefully reporting the news about itself. For example the farcical blaming of Rudy Gorbert for the outbreak was well orchestrated across the US media. Another example is the conspicuous lack of reporting on Luka Doncic's disinterest in returning for the reboot. Third where President & CEO Jordi Bertomeu of Spain clearly runs Euroleague, NBA commish Adam Silver is merely a puppet to the current cohort of NBA owners. Though the owners hide behind Silver, the commish is powerless. Fourth the NBA owners continue to threaten billion dollar losses if the NBA players don't agree to a reboot, a clear indication of a bitter division between the owners and players. There are have been at least three redundant articles over the past few months promising these losses; each such article comes within 24 hours of anti-reboot news. Why do we need to read the same news three times? Because it's not news...it's a threat from owners that RealGM gladly "reports."

European news outlets are fantastic at offering new sources of information. For instance Tomas Satoransky has bitterly complained about the reboot, how unfair it is for most foreign NBA players to be detained in the US during the pandemic. You won't find this on RealGM/RealGS. More generally you won't find a single article from the US media that is critical of how the owners have treated foreign players during the pandemic.

While this article complains about the lack of visibility, the truth is that the US media regularly conspires to protect the NBA owners by withholding news. Both the NBA owners and the US sports media withhold.

If the NBA owners are in bed with Trump's agenda, why would the media, critical as Trump as they are, continue to conspire to protect them? I understand right wing news covering it up but why would the left wing media do the same?

[Plutonashfan]

Though there is certainly a lack of transparency, the following seems evident when you read articles from pro-NBA outlets like RealGM.

First the NBA owners are tightly coupled with the political agenda of Donald Trump. Second the NBA is carefully reporting the news about itself. For example the farcical blaming of Rudy Gorbert for the outbreak was well orchestrated across the US media. Another example is the conspicuous lack of reporting on Luka Doncic's disinterest in returning for the reboot. Third where President & CEO Jordi Bertomeu of Spain clearly runs Euroleague, NBA commish Adam Silver is merely a puppet to the current cohort of NBA owners. Though the owners hide behind Silver, the commish is powerless. Fourth the NBA owners continue to threaten billion dollar losses if the NBA players don't agree to a reboot, a clear indication of a bitter division between the owners and players. There are have been at least three redundant articles over the past few months promising these losses; each such article comes within 24 hours of anti-reboot news. Why do we need to read the same news three times? Because it's not news...it's a threat from owners that RealGM gladly "reports."

European news outlets are fantastic at offering new sources of information. For instance Tomas Satoransky has bitterly complained about the reboot, how unfair it is for most foreign NBA players to be detained in the US during the pandemic. You won't find this on RealGM/RealGS. More generally you won't find a single article from the US media that is critical of how the owners have treated foreign players during the pandemic.

While this article complains about the lack of visibility, the truth is that the US media regularly conspires to protect the NBA owners by withholding news. Both the NBA owners and the US sports media withhold.

Thanks for shedding light on the foreign players perceptive on returning to US. It's pretty bad here but down right terrible in Florida currently. Due to their idiotic governor and stupid citizens it spreading wildfire. Wouldn't be surprised if it reaching 10's thousands in death when it's all said and done. Who in there right mind would want to go there especially with their family.

[slay25]

seems like the NBA has been let in on the truth about the plandemic, that it is just like any other flu or cold, almost certainly harmless for anyone in decent health under the age of 70. just look beyond the MSM, or rather, look at the CDC or WHO own words throughout

[arbsn]

i wish i could put money on the season being cancelled

[Stillwater]

Too many unknowns apparently make reporters with no help useless.. Yet they always use the speculation take to cover their sources when nothing is wrong.
This pandemic is just now really starting to build up with so many bars and other gathering places having reopened a couple weeks ago. 14 day incubation and like clockwork cases skyrocket.
Little signs like that are just the beginning of a long walk to get back to a normal existence.

[Hans1984]

The NBA wants to do this at all costs. That's why the media isn't allowed so noone can see how many players are actually sick.

[docholliday99]

The spike in players having Covid was bound to happen as 80% of the players are black and many are active in BLM activities like public marches and gatherings and such. Really not a big issue as all the players infected will isolate and when everyone is healthy and ready they'll enter the bubble 5 weeks from now. As for all the chatter of players coming and going and risking the bubble is more BS than anything, team mates would single that person(s) out much like Gobert was. As for the media not allowed to have the personal medical diagnosis' of players and staff, this is more about a privacy issue for medical reasons - many players/staff want to keep their privacy.

As for financial losses, those are clear for both sides of the equation if the season doesn't continue and 99% of the players want the season to continue - owners and players understand that a massive drop of revenue (from no games and no TV) will effect their contracts going forward; and from what I've seen, the only players with any clout calling for a halt are Irving and Wall - which is fine for them, as one is on a max deal and the other on a supermax deal respectively and both weren't going to play anyways due to injuries; so a halt won't really effect their bottom line. As for the rest of the players, as CJ McCollum and others have pointed out, more than half the players are living cheque to cheque - they need the season to resume and for next season to not be cancelled - it's in the best interest for owners and players, as the lion share of their revenue for both sides is from people watching.

There's really no subterfuge going on - Windhorst is just being a Windbag again.