When the 2020 NBA season was delayed by global circumstances, scheduled games had were put on pause for almost four months. During the stoppage of play, a number of players contracted COVID including Nikola Jokic, Jabari Parker, DeAndre Jordan, and Ivica Zubac. Fortunately, most of them have fully recovered.
Given these infections and the probability that more could occur, the NBA worked through a number of issues and came up with a strong re-start plan in June and games resumed in July. Part of this restart plan was giving players the option to opt-out, for any reason.
Many players felt that playing this season was a gamble, like playing slots or roulette with their health, and for that reason, they chose to opt-out. Others opted out for other reasons, as the re-start was scheduled during a period that many players normally had to take care of personal items.
Below is a list of some key NBA players who chose to opt-out of the 2020 season and the reasons behind their decision.
1. Trevor Ariza, Portland Trail Blazers
Ariza was reportedly involved in a custody battle with his son and chose not to return to play this season. Instead, he will be using this time to bond with his child. This is absolutely understandable, as time with family is precious, especially in a difficult situation. Caleb Swanigan, another Trail Blazers team member, has also chosen to opt-out due to personal reasons.
2. Davis Bertans, Washington Wizards
Bertans has chosen to sit out this season due to some injuries that he has experienced, which could jeopardize the future of his career. This is probably a good choice, as it is better to fully recover from an injury than risk damaging the body further by pushing yourself to play. Bradley Beal, will also not be joining the rest of the team due to a rotator cuff injury. The Wizards entered this re-start as a bubble playoff team and the loss of Bertans and Beal certainly didn’t help their chances.
3. Avery Bradley, Los Angeles Lakers
Bradley reportedly has a son who struggles to recover from respiratory illnesses, so he will be sitting out this round, in an effort to protect his family. Once again, this is completely understandable, as risk mitigation becomes a part of our daily lives. In mid-July, it was reported that Bradley has no regrets regarding his decision.
4. Willie Cauley-Stein, Dallas Mavericks
Cauley-Stein and his partner have been expecting a baby, so he has made the decision to not play, and rather be there for his new family. As it’s so important for a father to be there for this special occasion, this makes sense, regardless of the current global pandemic.
5. Wilson Chandler, Brooklyn Nets
Like many other players, Chandler has chosen not to play in order to safeguard the health of his family. New Jersey Nets teammates Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, Michael Beasley, and DeAndre Jordan from the Nets will also not be joining their teams, as they have chosen to rather rest and recover at home than endangering the health of their teams.
Overall, it seems like the Nets are having to restructure their team considerably this year, but this only gives other players a chance to move up the ranks, and show their mettle on the court during a particularly turbulent time.
6. Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
Oladipo has been suffering from a ruptured quad tendon injury for over a year now, so he will not be returning to play this season. The two-time All-Star guard played just 13 games this season after an abbreviated 2018-19 season. In announcing his decision, he cited his lengthy injury history and that the extended time off would help him recover.
7. Thabo Sefolosha, Houston Rockets
For unpublished reasons, Sefolosha, the South African-Swiss player, has decided not to return to the courts this season.
8. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz
Like Cauley-Stein of the Maverick, Conley was expecting the birth of his first child during the re-start and left the NBA’s bubble in Orlando for the birth of his son in August. At the time, the former Memphis Grizzlies guard said he planned to rejoin Utah at some point in the playoffs and did shortly after his wife Mary Peluso gave birth to their son.
9. DeMarcus Cousins
Initially, Cousins was reported out, but his agent claims he would still consider signing with the right team. That never materialized. Cousins has been trying to recover from a torn ACL injury that he suffered during a scrimmage in Las Vegas in 2019. His run of bad luck began when he tore his Achilles tendon in February 2018, a few short months before he could have commanded a massive contract in free agency.
Final Thoughts
As we can see from the list above, there are many players who won’t be returning for the start of the season this year. This is mainly due to complicating global circumstances and health factors, but life has also intervened for many. Therefore, some of the players are also not returning due to injuries and family priorities, which might have occurred regardless of what happened in the world this year.
Either way, the season looks set to continue, with many of the players being substituted with others, who will no doubt shine in their new opportunity to play on the court in 2020! Who knows, maybe you’ll be looking at some of your new favorite players on the court.