NBA G League Reportedly Considering Playing Season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Matthew Soberman

NBA G League Reportedly Considering Playing Season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Sports are known for having comebacks… and Walt Disney World might be joining the roster.

nba blm court
Source: Malika Andrews

According to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, the NBA G League is considering playing their season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The league, which acts as the official minor league of the National Basketball Asssociation, would play an abbreviated 12-to-15 game schedule beginning February 8th. Teams would have to assemble in their home markets by January 19th for physical exams and onboarding, with all teams arriving at Walt Disney World by January 26th. Following the regular season, playoffs would run from March 5th-9th.

The catch is that not every team in the league would participate in the bubble. The teams expected to play are, with their affiliates in parentheses:

  • Agua Caliente Clippers (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • Austin Spurs (San Antonio Spurs)
  • Canton Charge (Cleveland Cavaliers)
  • Delaware Blue Coats (Philadelphia 76ers)
  • Erie BayHawks (New Orleans Pelicans & Washington Wizards)
  • Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana Pacers)
  • Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets)
  • Iowa Wolves (Minnesota Timberwolves)
  • Lakeland Magic (Orlando Magic)
  • Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets)
  • Memphis Hustle (Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Raptors 905 (Toronto Raptors)
  • Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets)
  • Salt Lake City Stars (Utah Jazz)
  • Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State Warriors)
  • Westchester Knicks (New York Knicks)
  • Ignite, a G League Elite team

Not participating in this proposed plan are:

  • College Park Skyhawks (Atlanta Hawks)
  • Maine Red Claws (Boston Celtics)
  • Windy City Bulls (Chicago Bulls)
  • Texas Legends (Dallas Mavericks)
  • Grand Rapids Drive (Detroit Pistons)
  • South Bay Lakers (Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami Heat)
  • Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks)
  • Northern Arizona Suns (Phoenix Suns)
  • Stockton Kings (Sacramento Kings)
  • Capital City Go-Go (Washington Wizards, will use Erie instead)

Each team is expected to cover its own health and safety expenses during the season, ranging from $400-$500,000.

The NBA resumed its 2019-20 season at the complex, leading to a successful season where the Lakers were ultimately crowned champions (and a special color display on Cinderella Castle). Earlier this month, the league kicked off its 2020-21 season in their home markets, with the exception of Toronto (who couldn’t play in its home city due to Canadian COVID-19 travel restrictions), who will play in Tampa at least for the start of the season.

Keep reading WDWNT as we learn more on this developing story.