NBA May Not Allow “Certain Coaches” to Disney Out of Health Concerns

With the NBA now set to return, the league is set to take every necessary precaution to keep all players and personnel healthy amid the coronavirus global pandemic.

Something that still requires an address is how the NBA will look to involve its older coaches without putting them at greater risk. Gregg Popovich (71), Mike D’Antoni (69), and Alvin Gentry (65) are all at an age where if infected with COVID-19, it may turn deadly.

“I am sure they want to keep everyone safe, but to start singling people out with more risk, well, I would hope they wouldn’t want to get into that,” D’Antoni told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle also provided Wojnarowski with his opinion on the topic.

Adam Silver says it is possible that "certain coaches" may not be able to be the bench coach when play resumes at Disney "in order to protect them."

Gregg Popovich is 71. Mike D'Antoni is 69. Alvin Gentry is 65.

The CDC says people 65 and older are at higher risk.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 5, 2020

“I just spoke to Adam Silver and he admitted that he jumped the gun with his statement to TNT. The health and safety of our coaches is first and foremost. It’s entirely possible that an NBA coach in his 60’s or 70’s could be healthier than someone in their 30’s or 40’s. The conversation should never be solely about a person’s age. Adam assured me that we would work through this together to help determine what is both safe and fair for all of our coaches,” Carlisle told Wojnarowski.

Although not finalized, the NBA may not allow “certain coaches” to return with the team once play resumes “in order to protect them.”

With just under two months left until the season resumes, the NBA still has time to come up with something.