NBA Set To Reduce Salaries Of League’s Top Executives

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA is set to reduce the salaries of 100 of the league’s top executives according to a tweet from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The news comes as the basketball world continues to adjust to the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic that has sidelined professional sports across the globe.

The NBA had roughly 20 games remaining in its regular season when the league was put on hold as a result of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive for the virus. The league’s closure would be the domino that set in the motion the radical change in lifestyle in all industries across the nation.

Wojnarowski reported that the league officials will see a 20 percent drop in salary for the time being.

The NBA is reducing base salaries by 20 percent of approximately 100 of the league office’s top-earning executives around the world, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 26, 2020

The league is still hoping to reopen the NBA season at some point during the summer if it is deemed safe in wake of the coronavirus outbreak. With the2020 Tokyo Olympic games now postponed until the summer of 2021, the NBA could have the entire summer to play out its season in one form or another to crown a champion and recover lost revenue.

According to ESPN, the NBA is looking at July 1 as a loose drop-dead date by which the league’s games must return if it hopes to finish the season by Labor Day. If a full season cannot be played, the league has left options on the table to complete the season with an abbreviated postseason schedule, or possibly a tournament-style bracket to finish the year.

The league has yet to institute salary cuts beyond the top executives, though at least one NBA franchise has toyed with the idea. On Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers floated the idea of a 20 percent pay cut to team employees but were met with severe public backlash in light of the ownerships multi-billion-dollar valuation.

Sixers ownership statement to ESPN: ''….After listening to our staff and players, it's clear that was the wrong decision. We have reversed it and will be paying these employees their full salary." https://t.co/0mn1NthccQ

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 24, 2020

Late last week, the Jazz announced that the Larry H. Miller Group of corporations was working with Gobert to set up additional financial assistance and job opportunities to part-time employees that were out of work due to the league’s stoppage.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing [email protected].
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at [email protected].