Utah Jazz EVP Dennis Lindsey Says Franchise ‘Looks Forward To Getting Back On The Court’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said that the organization “looks forward to getting back on the court.”

On Friday, June 5, Lindsey released a statement shortly after the NBA Players Association announced that it “approved further negotiations with the NBA on a 22-team return to play scenario to restart the 2019-20 NBA season.”

“I would like to thank Commissioner Silver, the NBA Board of Governors and the players for their willingness and commitment to finish the 2019-20 NBA season,” Lindsey said in the statement. “While our society faces important issues that certainly eclipse basketball, the entire Jazz organization looks forward to getting back on the court and continuing its playoff push. We have full confidence that the league office, in collaboration with infectious disease specialists, public health experts and government officials, will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the players and on-site staff. While we regret not playing in front of our tremendous fans, we are grateful for their loyal support and know they will be behind us.”

also …#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/HPzoBwTprY

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 5, 2020

After the league’s Board of Governors approved a restart plan for the 2019-20 season on June 4, the NBA Players Association agreed to continue working with the league on finalizing details to continue the season.

The two sides are still negotiating details surrounding the return of the NBA according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Despite the delay, the league still plans to resume the season on July 31.

“The Board of Player Representatives of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has approved further negotiations with the NBA on a 22-team return to play scenario to restart the 2019-20 NBA season,” the NBPA said in a statement. “Various details remain to be negotiated and the acceptance of the scenario would still require that all parties reach agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play.”

The NBA hopes to have all players in their host cities by late June. Those teams will then travel to Orlando during the first week of July. Regular season games will begin on July 31, and the season will end no later than October 12.