As the NBA and National Basketball Players’ Association (NBPA) work together to determine the wisest course of action regarding any return to play for the suspended 2019-20 season, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports Boston Celtic All-Star forward Jayson Tatum will be part of the process.
Tatum, a rising star in since his election to his first-ever All-Star game this February, is reportedly going to serve in an advisory role on a working group designed to discuss return-to-play strategies and what they might entail.
That working group will include fellow players Russell Westbrook, Dwight Powell and Kyle Lowry as well as NBPA president Chris Paul.
At present it is unclear why the league and Players’ Association selected these players specifically.
The news comes after the NBPA denied earlier reporting by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the NBPA was already surveying players informally on their feelings towards resuming play this season, news Charania’s sources denied.
“NBPA regional representatives — including Tim McCormick and Frank Brickowski — were among the union officials polling players with a yes or no question on their current desire to return to play this season amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to sources,” reports Wojnarowski.
