Thunder owner Bennett urges NBA to resume play for all 30 teams to protect small markets
NBA is leaning towards a 22-team format to resume season.
Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett delivered an impassioned speech, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe, near the end of the NBA’s Board of Governors call on Friday asking for the competitive and financial plights of smaller market teams that could be left out of the resumption of the 2019-2020 season.
The NBA is moving towards a plan of inviting 22 teams to restart the season, but Bennett was wondering if there’s a way to safely bring all 30 teams.
Bennett suggested that nine months without games for some teams could have an impact on developing players, cultivating sponsorships and selling tickets in certain markets. His call was reportedly backed by Philadelphia 76ers’ Josh Harris and Phoenix Suns’ Robert Sarver.
Fonte: ESPN.