Magic Johnson is one of the people who can actually empathize with how it feels right now to be LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, or Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, or the Los Angeles Clippers duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Last week, LeBron made the most forceful statement yet from an NBA player about his desire to finish the season, including the playoffs, pushing back on reports that several player agents and team executives want the season to be canceled.
“LeBron and the Lakers are going for something special,” Johnson said to Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times. “The (Los Angeles) Clippers are going for something special. Milwaukee is going for something special. You know those guys are going to come to play. Their egos are on the line. The championship is on the line.”
Obviously, the public health situation must subside before the players will be able to compete against each other again. Teams in states where stay-at-home orders have been lifted are expected to open their practice facilities to players no sooner than May 8. The Athletic reported last week that teams will likely lobby local governments in areas where stay-at-home orders don’t expect to be loosened anytime soon.
