Ever since the National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended operations on March 11th, 2020, fans and players alike have speculated to if the season would resume and if there would be a Championship awarded this year. While the NBA has made no official announcement, but rumors are swirling that some practice facilities might be opening up as soon as May 1st.
An undisclosed source has told the media that the NBA has made a decision and will allow individual workouts at NBA facilities in states that have lifted stay-at-home orders. Since the league closure, facilities have been off-limits, however, the league was practicing social distancing before the facilities closed. For the most part, league players have been working out from home, either with the help of a face-time trainer or with social-conference platforms such as Zoom.
The coronavirus has hit sports leagues and the 18 online sports betting industry, especially hard. Ever since the NBA postponed play, other sporting leagues around the world have followed suit and suspended or canceled their seasons, leaving bettors with little to wager on in terms of sports.
Online sportsbooks have tried to fill the betting woes by offering tons of futures and props for the upcoming seasons that have not yet been affected by COVID-19. You can find future betting odds on the NBA, but those bets have conditions and could be refunded if the season does not take place.
There is no doubt that the NBA and the players want to finish the season to some degree. Multiple players have expressed their feelings longing for the court or the game, and even LeBron James said he wouldn’t be able to have closure if the season was to get canceled.
This past weekend several states opened business back up with restrictions. If the report is accurate that the NBA will allow some teams in those states to open facilities for individuals, we can expect to see some form of the 2020 NBA Season soon. Two weeks ago, NBA commissioner Adam Silver told the media that the league is not ready to set a start date and that all options are currently on the table, including delaying the start of next season.
2020 NBA Championship Winner Odds
Los Angeles Lakers +200
Milwaukee Bucks +240
Los Angeles Clippers +275
Boston Celtics +1200
Houston Rockets +1600
Toronto Raptors +1600
Denver Nuggets +2500
Philadelphia 76ers +2800
Utah Jazz +3300
Miami Heat +3500
Dallas Mavericks +4000
Brooklyn Nets +6600
Indiana Pacers +8000
New Orleans Pelicans +10000
Oklahoma City Thunder +10000
Memphis Grizzlies +25000
Portland Trail Blazers +25000
Orlando Magic +50000
Phoenix Suns +75000
San Antonio Spurs +75000
Sacramento Kings +100000
Chicago Bulls +250000
Washington Wizards +250000
Atlanta Hawks +500000
Charlotte Hornets +500000
Cleveland Cavaliers +500000
Detroit Pistons +500000
Minnesota Timberwolves +500000
New York Knicks +500000
odds available at Bovada Sportsbook
